Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Memory Books and Memory Boxes

In this activity, you will:

 Introduce the concept of memory books and memory boxes to the group

Facilitator’s notes:

Often family histories are lost when parents die, as much of this knowledge was anecdotal or told in

stories. Parents facing an untimely death can plan for their children’s future by making rememberance

tools for them, in the form of memory books and memory boxes.

A memory book can contain information about the children’s family,

so that they have a record of their family’s history. Information that

could go in the book is outlined in the box on the next page.

Photos, drawings and stories can be included in the book to make

it interesting. An important function of memory books is to disclose

information that the children may be too young to understand, such

as a parent’s HIV status. This information will help the child to

come to terms with their parent’s death when they are older.

Important letters, documents and certificates relating to the family;

and any precious objects can be kept in a memory box for the children.

For this activity you will need:

 Copies of Handout 3

 Extra sheets of blank paper

To facilitate this activity:

1 Spend some time telling participants about what a memory book is, using your facilitator’s

notes. Then hand out copies of Handout 3 and go through the points with participants.

Tell the group that they will be working on a memory book as homework, but that they will

start on the preparation for their books during the session by making notes on sheets of paper.

Their memory book can be for one of the participant’s own children (even if the participant is

not ill), or it can be made for a child that a participant is caring for.

2 Tell participants that by making a memory book, they will be able to help parents and guardians

who are ill to do the same thing for their children.

Participants can give parents the following guidelines when making a memory book:

• Don’t rush while writing; write when you are ready


• Make a rough copy (on a piece of paper) before writing in the memory book to avoid
  crossing things out and making the book untidy


• You can start from any page


• Seek out a friend or counsellor for emotional support if what you are writing about is painful


• If someone cannot write, their child or a friend can help them to write.

Activity 5

40 minutes

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Unit 2, Module 4^285