Abstract
The family is the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of children. The Namibian Constitution protects the family, without specifying what ‘family’ means—which allows for legal concepts of family to evolve to fit social realities. The caring for children, most commonly by extended family or kinship carers is widespread and a practice acceptable in
most Namibian cultures in the spirit of Ubuntu. This article foregrounds the importance of carer-child relationships in the care provided by extended family for children who do not live with their birth parents. It further investigates children’s everyday understandings of what family means to offer a multiplicity of experiences of child fosterage practice. These are presented from a range of carers and children within the fosterage context and considered within children’s unique and positive relationships within their families.
most Namibian cultures in the spirit of Ubuntu. This article foregrounds the importance of carer-child relationships in the care provided by extended family for children who do not live with their birth parents. It further investigates children’s everyday understandings of what family means to offer a multiplicity of experiences of child fosterage practice. These are presented from a range of carers and children within the fosterage context and considered within children’s unique and positive relationships within their families.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 239-261 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | British Academy |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | (s2) |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2022 |