Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Strategies for the Spiritual Care of OVC

In this activity, you will:

 Get the group to look at ways to help children spiritually

Facilitator’s notes:

Apart from counselling the children in their care, home visitors can also support vulnerable children
by encouraging them to take part in religious or spiritual practices, according to their culture.
This has the advantage of creating a further support structure for children who may need it.

For this activity you will need:

 Flipchart and markers

To facilitate this activity:

1 Divide the participants into small groups and ask each group to brainstorm strategies
for the spiritual care of vulnerable children who may be in their care. Encourage them to
think of strategies that would be relevant to, and feasible in, their own community.

2 Bring the groups back together and ask each group, in plenary, to present their ideas.
You may want to write up their responses in the flipchart. Once you have all their input,
review the responses and then go through the list in your facilitator’s notes.
Allow time for discussion and questions.

Activity 3

Some strategies for the spiritual care of children:

• Encouraging them to pray in their respective faiths


• Praying for and with them


• Sharing your own faith with them through words and actions


• Showing love and concern for them


• Caring for their souls as well as their physical needs


• Answering their questions about God, right and wrong, the meaning of life, etc.


• Encouraging them to getting baptised, when appropriate


• Encouraging them to join Sunday school or other religious education classes


• Encouraging them to learn simple Bible study, when appropriate


• Encouraging them to have faith in God


• Encouraging them to go to church or other faith-based services.

30 minutes

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Unit 2, Module 2^205