Psychosocial Support Source Book for Vulnerable Children in Malawi

This practical guide for service providers working with children in Malawi is designed to improve psychosocial support services (PSS) to orphans and other vulnerable children by bringing together available knowledge and experiences in a user-friendly manner. The publication presents strategies and tools in the PSS service area in Malawi. According to the publishers, it is hoped that this Source Book will stimulate dialogue on the issue and help to develop a culture among service providers of documenting and sharing best practices. The Source Book is intended for PSS practitioners working with children in Malawi: families, volunteers and other community members, government staff, development partners, and civil society organisations including community-based organisations.

The toolkit consists of the following chapters:

• Chapter 1: HIV/AIDS and vulnerable children in Malawi - This chapter gives an overview of HIV/AIDS in Malawi, the situation of orphans, and government measures. It also presents strengths, gaps, and opportunities in the Malawian psychosocial support service area.
• Chapter 2: The psychosocial support concept - This Chapter explores the following concepts: psychosocial, psychosocial support, psychosocial well-being, psychosocial interventions, and psychosocial support programming, and psychosocial indicators.
• Chapter 3: Psychosocial support strategies - This chapter presents ten psychosocial support strategies that aim at improving the well-being of vulnerable children. A number of activities are also included.
• Chapter 4: Psychosocial support tools - This chapter displays fourteen tools that help children to express themselves, such as making a memory book and playing games.