Sonja Giese

Spinning the Epidemic: The Making of Mythologies of Orphanhood in the Context of AIDS.

This article questions why a somewhat singular focus on orphanhood in the context of AIDS persists despite important shifts to more inclusive terminology of ‘orphans and vulnerable children’. Analysis of data from South Africa raises questions about the ‘spin’ placed on ‘orphanhood’ and its perceived consequences for children. Local notions of vulnerability and of orphanhood are examined, and their mismatch with international policy definitions noted. The article illustrates how the global focus on orphans consolidates stereotypes of childrens experiences, and moderates local applications of the term. It concludes by arguing that the global preoccupation with orphans and their rights as children ‘in need of special protection’ is shifting the terrain of orphanhood at a local level in South Africa, and producing new struggles on the ground. The article argues for careful attention to be paid to conceptual and representational issues by those writing about and responding to childhoods in the context of AIDS.

Child Care, Developmental Delay and Institutional Practice

Child care, developmental delay and institutional practice This research draws on Valsiners (1987) individual socio- ecological approach to development, and Miller and Goodnows (1995) concept of a cultural practice. It shows how institutions for children act as cultural settings that contain child-care practices that advance or retard childrens development through the forms of social exchange and activities they promote. Formal assessments of a group of institutionalised children indicated significant delay in five developmental domains. Child-care workers were observed interacting with these children in a range of activity settings within the institutional routine. Staff behaviour towards the children was found to be highly regulatory and characterised by block treatment. Interactions allowed little opportunity for the scaffolding of psychological capacities beyond those that were functional within the ideological, personnel, and material constraints of the institution. We argue that regulative styles of care-giving explain, at least in part, the developmental delays shown by the institutionalised children, and that these styles do little to address developmental problems associated with inadequate care prior to institutionalisation. It is argued that institutional culture promotes regulative care through the establishment of routines that facilitate multiple care-giving under conditions of scarce personnel resources.

Children ‘in need of care’ or in need of cash? Social security in the time of AIDS

Abstract In the face of international pressure and local concern regarding the repercussions of the AIDS epidemic for children in South Africa, as well as the review underway of childrens legislation in the country, there is much debate regarding social security provision for children in the context of HIV/AIDS. To date, the States social security response to the impact of AIDS on children has been to focus its attention on the provision of the Foster Child Grant for orphans. Draft Childrens legislation introduces additional cash grants, some of which similarly target orphans. However, drawing on a combination of primary research and demographic projections, this paper argues against the provision of grants for orphans as a category of children distinct from other children. It argues that, given the pervasiveness of poverty across South Africas child population, a social security system that directs interventions on the basis of childrens orphanhood mistargets crucial resources; is inequitable; is lo...