Browsing by Author "Tucholski, Henry"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Experiences of Children Living in Foster Families in Kajiado County, Kenya
    (Institute of Youth Studies Tangaza University College, 2020) Waweru, Josephine Naita; Tucholski, Henry; Kisasa, Catherine; Mwarari, Catherine; Nyagah, Anatasio; Churu, Beatrice
    Foster care is perceived as a viable alternative in the care for and protection of vulnerable children particularly for those whose family situation is deemed as dysfunctional as to present reasonable risk to their wellbeing. In the context of a governmental policy Kenya that seeks to redirect foster care practices towards more use of family-based foster care, this study was undertaken to seek a proximate appreciation of the experiences of children whose lives now oscillate between two alternative care environments, namely, foster family settings and Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs). Kenya has a huge number of children that grow up in need of alternative care, with an estimated 3.6 million of these being orphaned or classified as vulnerable (UNICEF, 2015). The alternative care structures, while embedded in a rich national and international legal framework, are not adequately implemented. Even basic registration of CCIs has significant gaps (UNICEF, 2014). Research from global to local sources shows the huge disadvantages for children growing up in institutions other than families and give ample rationale for the move of the Kenya Government to de-institutionalize as many children as possible by bringing them into family-based care. The study adopted the phenomenological research design, purposive sampling 26 preteens and teenagers living, during the school term, in a CCI that doubles up as their School and then moving to live with foster families during the school holidays. The latter was a recently introduced new move that enabled the CCI to comply with new government directives. Interview schedules were used to collect data which was then analysed using an inductive thematic approach. The focal area of the field study were the experience in the CCI, the transition to the foster families and the experience in the latter for each of the interviewees. Among important findings of the study includes an overall happy environment for the children in the CCI, including a good variety in diet, and adequate sense of safety among other key basic needs. The children present with a sense of security in the home as their regular and predictable programme as well as well elaborated system of values this CCI makes them feel clear of their way. Above all the children are confident of a great education that they receive in the home, and this makes them very hopeful and even resilient. EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN LIVING IN FOSTER FAMILIES IN KAJIADO COUNTY, KENYA 11 Transition to the foster family homes seems to be overall rather poorly managed due perhaps to the lack of preparation of the staff for the role of assisting the children to prepare for the transition. In particular, the children did not experience a sense of choice in the transition matter. It was a decision communicated to them. This may not have facilitated ease of transition, and indeed the some of the reports of the children indicate some anxiety in the transition period. But in most cases the children had positive experiences in the foster homes anyway. It may be observed that the fact that most of the foster families were in relationship to the school as a faith affiliate may have helped the children to make an easy transition to the family homes despite lack of adequate preparation. Concerning the experience of reception in the foster family majority of the children felt welcome, appreciated and accepted. The findings of this study provide information that will be used to improve foster care in Kenya. In particular, there is much to be learned from the positive experiences accrued by the children while in the CCI. Among these is the security provided by a strong institutional tradition and system of values. If in addition, the foster families to which the children are sent share the same values, this can be an advantage for the consistency of their upbringing and their psychological security. The study also shows the dire need for ongoing training of care-givers throughout the spectrum of foster care. Many of the successful experiences of the study point to the importance of establishing traditions as those of the school, as well as predictable systems. The gaps in the foster care system that this study unearthed are also clearly gaps in the accompaniment processes, both in the CCI and in the foster families. Life-skills training also needs to be increased for children in foster care. This can help them build up resilience in the changing seasons of their lives and enable them to draw more value from them. Their psychological experience and preparedness needs to be taken on board in the decisions that affect them. In all the study serves to confirm the adroitness of the policy direction taken by the Government of Kenya regarding family-based foster care; it is a useful supplement to CCI care when the latter is necessary.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    From System To Story
    (Tangaza University College, 1996-02) Tucholski, Henry
    "Once upon a time ", that is common phrase; easy to oppose a truth but impossible to resist a story. Many spiritual teachers of humanity, like Buddha and Jesus brought to light their teachings in stories. Through stories they warmed the way into hearts of their listeners, and broke dim n barriers hindering human hearts from "touching" the divine. In the light o the revival of story telling and increased interest of many for narrative theology I would like to give my thoughts to this subject. This research will be combined with my reflections upon the theological system used for the preparation of future ministers at Tangaza. I feel we are still dominated by creeds, catechisms which form our thought patterns. Our theological preparation for the near future ministry in Africa takes an analytical path which fits very well to our computer age. Our "knowledge energy" stressing rational and logical patterns in theology, stands in a dilemma with hungry people for experience of God and holistic vision of their lives. I think the revival of story-telling here in Africa calls louder than anywhere else . African culture fades away front its imaginative elements of life, from story-telling. People have stopped telling stories. Perhaps this fact too, has contributed to the lack of personal contact among the people. We are on the threshold of a new face of Evangelization of Africa. The recent post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Africa" No.11 says that: "... the local Churches of Africa hold a right ful place in the communion of the Church, that they are entitled to preserve and develop their own traditions without in any way lessening the primacy of the chair of Peter." In connection with this quotation I think that storytelling is very much part of the African culture, as the preservation of values and its developments. The same concern For the revival of story-telling should find its place in theology. We should invi live in our theological studies the elements of imagination and feelings. Maybe in such an approach to theology we would find it easier to express it to the people without lessening its gist. in the world at large there is already a well-established section of theology called "Narrative Theology" with leading theologians such as John Shea, John Navone, William Bausch. This nanalive approach to theology raises many important issues. One of them is that story could be a very good means to transmit the intellectually elaborated theology to simple people who search rather for something to notuish their feelings and imagination. however, this requires preparation. 5 A Minister engaged in storytelling must be able to interpret stories, and must understand how the Christian story finds resonance in the hearts and minds of story-hungry people. The whole theme of storytelling covers a large field. In my paper I will be selective. I want to depart front the theological context, look at the narrative reality of a man, then looit closely at story itself and its teller and finally Twill bring story to a pastoral context. In the first chapter I will try to make a move from a theology embodied in system to story. The following chapter. "Tow ards theology of Story" will insert us in the broad context of a story. The third chapter is devoted to the pastoral application of storytelling in the area of Catechetics, Liturgy and moral teaching of the Church. At the end of this paper, in the appendix I would like to give some practical suggestions for the storyteller.