Siyakha NentshaBuilding assets and reducing vulnerability in KwaZulu Natal

Migration and AdolescentsMarch 24, 2011

Paris, FranceEva Roca

General context in KZN

Kleinschmidt, Pettifor et al, 2007

HIV

General context in

KZN

Legal context

•Children’s Act April 2010 (18)

Semi-rural KwaZulu Natal– Peri-urban, close to Durban but

culturally far– Even those who don’t move have

unstable lives

Vulnerabilities put adolescents at risk for HIV

• Living in poverty• Being socially isolated• Loss of one of both

parents

Project team

LearnersParents

Schools and DoETribal Authority

AccuData Advisory Group

Siyakha Nentsha• Schools, facilitators• Boys and girls• Participatory reflective learning,

action-oriented• Accredited• Testable

Preparing for opportunities and risks

HIV and STIs teenage pregnancy early unplanned parenthood

school dropout loss of one or both parentsemployment and training opportunities social grants

social support citizenshiplanguage skills

Randomization

Longitudinal surveyFocus group with participants, parents, and

mentorsGPS coordinates at R2

A third round

Measures

Who are the participants?Situation of learners in 2009 Boys Girls

Average age (years) 19 18

% who are orphans 41 38

% who report ever been pregnant — 20

% who say their household doesn’t have enough money for

basic necessities74 75

% whose homes are connected to electricity 97 92

% who did not have food to eat the morning of the survey 10 14

% who walk to school 88 82

% who have ever worked for pay 19 8

# of members in the household 7 8

Mean # of items owned by household, out of 22 9.8 9.5

• HIV/AIDS and RH: knowledge, skills and behaviors, including adoption of safer sexual behaviors and service use

• Economic skills: ability to plan and manage personal and familial finances, identify and access available services, FET opps, social benefits; articulate a plan for pursuing future livelihood-enhancing opportunities

• Social networks and support: access to friends, adult role models and individuals/groups who can assist with crisis management and provide links to opportunities

Changes seen post-program

• Sexual debut• Secondary abstinence,

fewer partners • Condom confidence• Improved budgeting and planning skills

• Pursuing income-generating activities• Having savings• Social capital• Higher self-esteem• Birth certificate

• Social grants• SA ID

• Gender attitudes

How is all this relevant for migrants?

• Many young people hope to migrate in next 5 years.

• Similar challenges

Some learners are already on the move

• Mostly within KZN• Because parents migrate• Because caregivers die• To change schools• Work

Data that might be relevant for migration

• GPS coordinates• Household composition and size

• Relationahip to head of household• Type of work involved in• Compensation for work

• Have CV, ID, birth certificate• Knowledge of income-generating opportunities

• Have friends that would provide food if hungry, place to sleep, borrow money

• Types of organizations belong to• Who expects to share money earned

• Have money keep in case of emergency• Have bank account

• Know requirements for social grants• Have a goal

• Where would like to be in 5 years• Emotional well-being

• Speak and read English

Selected resources

• Hallman, K. 2010, in press. “Social exclusion: The gendering of adolescent HIV risks in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,” in J. Klot and V. Nguyen eds., The Fourth Wave: An Assault on Women - Gender, Culture and HIV in the 21st Century. Social Science Research Council and UNESCO.

• Hallman, K. 2008.“Researching the determinants of vulnerability to HIV amongst adolescents,” IDS Bulletin, 39(5), November 2008.

• Bruce, J. and Hallman, K. 2008. “Reaching the girls left behind,” Gender & Development, 16(2): 227-245.

• Hallman, K and Roca, E. 2007. “Reducing the social exclusion of girls,” www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/TABriefs/PGY_Brief27_SocialExclusion.pdf

• Hallman, K. 2007. “Nonconsensual sex, school enrollment and educational outcomes in South Africa,” Africa Insight (special issue on Youth in Africa), 37(3): 454-472.

• Hallman, K. 2005. “Gendered socioeconomic conditions and HIV risk behaviours among young people in South Africa,” African Journal of AIDS Research 4(1): 37–50. Abstract: http://www.popcouncil.org/projects/abstracts/AJAR_4_1.html

Thank you!

Our funders: ESRC/Hewlett Joint Scheme& DFID via the ABBA RPC