Separation Issues for Children
In this activity, you will:
Discuss the effects of separation on childrenFacilitator’s notes:
Separation is a situation where people of the same family may be forced to live apart from each
other, for a given time. Other than losing parents and property, children may be faced with
separation because of their parent’s death, which can cause them great anxiety. This is another
reason why parents need to plan for their children’s future before they die.
Forms of separation
- Temporary separation - when a child is looked after by a guardian for a while
- Permanent separation - when a child is placed permanently under the care of a guardian.
Effects of separation on children:
- Stress
- Depression
- Suffering
- Poverty
- Loss of property and possessions
- Children living on the streets
- Child neglect.
. For this activity you will need:
Flipchart and markers
To facilitate this activity:
1 Start this activity by getting the group to brainstorm what effects separation may have on a
child who has lost his or her parents. Write these up on the flipchart. Add points from your
facilitator’s notes, if necessary.
2 Ask participants to volunteer to role-play the effects of separation on OVC. The role-play group
should consist of about six players: one representing the chronically ill parent, two representing
the children, one representing a guardian, and two representing threats to the family (for example,
a person taking furniture after the death of the parent). The role-play should also show what
happens to the children if there is no one to care for them after the death of their parents.
3 Then get participants to brainstorm how the effects of separation could be minimised for OVC.
Write these up on the flipchart. If time permits, get them to discuss how a home visitor could
help in such a situation.
40 minutesActivity 7
Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Unit 2, Module 4^289