Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Memory Books and Boxes

A memory book can be made for each child in the

household. Memory books are important because:

• They can help a child locate his or her relatives as
  they include family trees, which show the history of the child


• They can help a child to know important background information about
  where they come from and about their family


• They may help to facilitate the disclosure of a parent’s HIV status.

A memory book can be written by:

• The mother, father or guardian of a child who would like to record the child’s life and
  his or her relationship with the child


• Anybody who wants to record important information about his or her family and life.

A memory book can be kept safely for the child:

• In a clean place in the guardian’s or family’s house


• With a close friend


• With a counsellor


• At a church

A memory book can include the following information about the child:

• A family tree of the parents, grandparents and relatives of the child


• The child’s birth: where, which doctor, what hospital, who was around and photos, if possible


• The child’s first smile, first words, when the child began crawling and walking


• The child’s early experiences and memorable things about the child’s life


• The child’s health history. This could include early illnesses and immunisations recorded


• The child’s education: nursery school, his/her first day at primary school and other records


• Things the child used to like and dislike


• The parent or caretaker’s hopes and expectations for the child


• The child’s recent achievements and experiences.
  All this information should be as detailed as possible. Where possible, include photographs.

Information about the mother and father:

• Names of the mother and father and their parents, included in the family tree


• Where and how they grew up, including their childhood memories, how they used to look


• What they liked and disliked as children and as adults


• Their education, talents, work skills and job


• Their religious background and beliefs


• Their health history, including any illness


• Disclosure of important information (this is where his or her HIV status can be disclosed)


• Their special message for the child.

(^286) Unit 2, Module 4 Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children