I slept with a man from the shopping center to get sugar and money in return: Survival strategies of left-behind children in rural Zimbabwe

Abstract

Employing an in-depth phenomenological approach, this study explores the experiences of left-behind children residing with extended families in the Chivi district, Zimbabwe. Twelve participants, aged 13-19 years, were selected for this qualitative investigation. Through individual in-depth interviews, the children shared their insights on familial dynamics, revealing the nuanced nature of extended care arrangements. The key findings illuminate the participants’ profound reflections on the challenges of having been left behind and elucidate the psycho-emotional ramifications of parental separation. In addition, the study underscores risk survival strategies that left-behind children employ to navigate socioeconomic challenges within extended family settings, including engagement in transactional sex and risky mining activities. Participants expressed feelings of abandonment in comparison to their peers living with biological parents. Notably, the study reveals the significant resilience exhibited by left-behind children, who described various coping mechanisms such as journaling and reliance on religious practices. The study recommendations advocate for the enhancement of legal and policy frameworks to better safeguard the well-being of children in Zimbabwe’s strained extended family support system.

Keywords

Left-behind children / Extended family / Survival strategies / Rural Zimbabwe

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