Journal of Global Social Work Practice, Volume 2, Number 1, May/June 2009
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Empowering HIV/AIDS Orphans Through Teaching Vocational Trades: A SWOT Analysis of a Community-Based Orphan Training Program in Malawi The HIV/AIDS pandemic has caused a dramatic increase in the number of orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa. In the country of Malawi, 25% of children are without parents, and some of these children live in child-headed households. In an effort to increase the self-sufficiency of adolescent orphans and other vulnerable children, the Rural Livelihood Support Program operates a vocational skills training program in Southern Malawi. Adolescent orphans are trained in trades such as building, carpentry, and tailoring. A strategic planning method known as the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis was performed using data collected from focus group interviews with 113 individuals. Recommendations for improvements to the orphan training program's policies and practices are proposed. The authors of this study would like to express their gratitude to The Catholic University of Malawi and The University of North Carolina at Charlotte for their interest in and support to the researchers throughout the study. Sincere thanks go to the Rural Livelihood Support Program staff, (in particular Mr. Maurice Kalimba and Mrs. Elda Ganda), and local leaders and the general community from Traditional Authority Nkolo in Chiradzulu district who took time from their busy schedules to be interviewed and provide input for this research. The researchers also thank the latter for their cooperation, active participation, and contributions during field work (data collection). Many thanks also to all those who contributed to this study as informants, for without them this study would not have been a success. In particular, our very best wishes are extended to the children and young adults who participated in the study. |