Ubuntu: A countermeasure for challenges of child-rearing

Abstract

The research examines the contributions of the African Indigenous Knowledge System and, more precisely, the African traditional philosophy of community or Ubuntu as a countermeasure against the challenges of child-rearing in a changing society. The research contends that Ubuntu has a sagacity from which the world can learn lessons to combat the challenges of child-rearing in a changing society. Challenges named above are mainly due to society becoming more modernized, and individualistic thereby neglecting African ways of child rearing. This is the case with urbanization whereby many people move to urban places for economic prospects. Another challenge is that of family decay worldwide, where there’s an increase in a number of single parenting due to a number of factors. Some of those factors are due to the high divorce rate, the death of a partner etc. The author argues that Ubuntu can contribute to offering helpful solutions to the challenges under study. The research utilises the secondary research or desk research methodology. The results show that Ubuntu is a likely good countermeasure against the myriad of challenges in child-rearing worldwide. The research concludes that the utilisation of this African philosophy may be extremely valuable in contributing supportively to the many challenges of childrearing faced by people worldwide.

Care burden and support needs of caregivers of infants and children with CHDs and dysphagia

“…This was surprising given that family and community support are generally considered integral to childrearing in the (South) African context. 31 Linking with parents of children with the same difficulties as a form of peer-to-peer support has been reported as beneficial in studies of caregivers of children with CHD and caregivers of children with dysphagia. 4,11,18,22,25,26 When asked about additional support that they would have liked, our participants reported that they would have valued a facilitated parent support group where they could share their experiences with other caregivers facing similar difficulties.…”

Interrogating the agency and education of refugee children with disabilities in Northern Uganda: A critical capability approach

“…In this regard, Hashim and Thorsen (2011) identify that children are accountable not only to their immediate family but also to other extended family members as well, who act like fathers and mothers, including having claims on and obligations to children at the different levels of their migration. It is through this interpersonal culture that children learn how it feels to be valued, loved and cared for, thereby imparting similar values in them (Mokhutso, 2022). In this way, the social fabric of intrahousehold relations shape children's agency, identity, sense of belonging and migratory experiences in significant ways.…”