Exploring the Experiences of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the Vhembe District: a Qualitative Study

Although there is extensive literature on orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa, few studies focus specifically on the lived experiences of children in rural districts like Vhembe. Furthermore, there is limited empirical data on the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions from the perspective of the recipients. This study aims to address these gaps by exploring the experiences of orphans and vulnerable children in the Vhembe District and the support services provided to them. Qualitative exploratory-descriptive design was used to explore the experiences of orphans and vulnerable children in the Vhembe District. This study was conducted in four municipalities in the Vhembe district: Thulamela, Makhado, Collins Chabane, and Musina. Data were collected using in-depth interviews conducted with the orphans and vulnerable children from Vhembe district using an interview guide with open-ended questions. The subsequent data were thoroughly analyzed following Tesch’s eight-step data coding process. The study revealed that orphans and vulnerable children are facing many challenges following the loss of their parents including maltreatment, deprivation and neglect, abuse and alienation. The study highlights a critical gap in the life of orphans and vulnerable children in the Vhembe district. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including collaboration among diverse stakeholders to ensure comprehensive psychosocial support for this vulnerable demographic. The imperative reinforcement of drop-in centers and social workers’ prioritization of psychosocial assistance emerge as vital recommendations emanating from this research.