16 Nov 2017

A therapist with Ark and Mark Trust, Ms Mpho Sebako says it is imperative to empower caregivers to provide appropriate care to orphaned children.

Ms Sebako observed that orphaned children experienced trauma due to loss of their parents, which shakes their lives and brings confusion.

She was speaking at a workshop organised by Maun Administration Authority (MAA) to empower caregivers and share experiences amongst themselves.

Ms Sebako said Ark and Mark Trust organisation partnered with government to train social workers and orphaned adolescents in grief and trauma.

Therapy, she said was a medicine to the orphaned children to accept the loss of their parents and live a normal life, which includes continuing with school.

However, Ms Sebako noted that emotions required a long time to heal, which could be achieved through intense therapy by social workers.

She noted that training by Ark and Mark to the adolescents challenges the young people to introspect and to accept living with the caregivers.

She however said some caregivers abuses orphaned children verbally, physically and sexually, which were some of the things that were revealed during their two weeks therapy trainings with the adolescents undergo.

The trainings, she noted were held in the wilderness as nature heals.

She said the programme had helped many young people who had gone through it as it empowered the orphaned teens to be outspoken and report any form of ill treatment from the caregivers as well as to develop a positive relationship with the caregivers.

About 58 teenage orphans from Maun have gone through the programme.

MAA senior assistant council secretary, Ms Mogomotsi Seemule appreciated caregivers for the great job in raising orphaned children.

She observed that everyone responsible for the custody of a child was a parent.

She therefore noted that the caregivers’ training was crucial to sensitise them on proper care of children to live an acceptable life in the absence of their biological parents.

Ms Seemule said it was important for the caregivers to be empowered for them to help orphaned children.

The workshop was purported to empower caregivers with skills to manage challenges faced by orphaned children and to come up with appropriate interventions. BOPA