Rural children’s role in buffering household poverty throughganyu(piecework) in Zambia

Abstract

In Zambia, the ways in which social change intersects with rural livelihoods to increase children's workload and commodify their labour are poorly understood. In this article, changing patterns of rural children's work are seen as necessitated by their evolving household roles and contributions in an increasingly rural cash-based economy. Drawing on child-focused qualitative research in rural Lundazi district in Zambia, it is explored how children use a traditional labour practice called 'ganyu' (piecework) to ameliorate poverty. The infiltration of the cash-based economy, amplified by the Economic Structural Adjustment Programmes, a predominantly adult-centred traditional informal socio-economic levelling mechanism of ganyu, and its evolution into more cash-oriented transactions increasingly involving children are discussed. Although ganyu has largely been seen as characterized by exploitative labour relations, the empirical findings from this research indicate the complex ways in which the practice is empowering children and their families. The resources accrued through ganyu are vital for both personal and household well-being. The findings of this study have important implications to rethink not only contentious issues of child labour but also dominant narratives of childhood that fail to take into account children's lived experiences as situated in local, social, economic, and cultural contexts.

Studying intergenerational processes in 21st century rural African societies

“…In most rural African communities, children's reproductive and productive, paid and unpaid work contribution is often seen in the context of interdependence and social responsibility to their rural families, households, communities etc. (see also Abebe and Kjørholt 2013;Phiri 2016;Phiri and Abebe 2016;Klocker 2007). According to Panelli (2002), this involves negotiated means by which young people experience and actively build their lives working through their contexts to perform both required and voluntary aspects of their lives.…”

“…Increasingly, these traditional lifestyles in many local communities are under pres-sure to adapting or adopting more 'modern' lifestyles fitting with global discourses. For instance, research in rural Zambia reveals how village huts with grass thatched roofs and mud walls are now equated with poverty and ill-being (Phiri 2016). Yet, they have been at the centre of rural socio-cultural identity.…”

“…The rural political economy is rapidly transforming due to both national and global factors. The infiltration of the cash economy and shifting consumer patterns reshape rural livelihood patterns (see Abebe 2007;Phiri 2016). In Zambia and Malawi, it is illustrated how social forms of immunity, such as ganyu traditional practices (Mtika 2001: 178), mostly done by adults are now drawing more participation of young people and transforming into a cash-based transaction.…”

“…Thus, children's contributions to rural social economy are largely hidden. Yet, existing research informed by children reveals the unique ways in which poverty unfolds in their lives and how they respond and interpret its effects for their future life prospects (Phiri 2016;Phiri and Abebe 2016).…”

Suffering and thriving: Children’s perspectives and interpretations of poverty and well-being in rural Zambia

“…In order to offset food and economic deprivations, children and their household engage in survival strategies such as ganyu (Phiri, in press). Ganyu is a traditional, informal, ‘off-own-farm’ labour relation where the ‘don’t haves’ work for the ‘haves’ in exchange for food, animal(s), supplies, clothes, shoes or money.…”