Sampling

The nature of the thesis had in mind the OCHH, the institutions and individuals surrounding them. So random sampling was not an appropriate methodology for this particular research. The sampling used rejected all people/children who did not fit the earmarked category (Long and Long, 1992: 48). For example orphaned children who were with guardians could not be sampled as core research participants, although some of them were sampled as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) participants as they fit the category of people surrounding the OCHH.

For the participants in the institutions snowballing, also known as ‘beetle dung’40 sampling, was used as a method used in grounded theory. In some instances it was necessary to understand from one NGO which other NGO is working in the same area affecting the OCHH. This also happened in the district office where departments mentioned other sub-departments which are relevant to the study and were then included in the sample. This way of sampling is said to be ‘Non- Probability Sampling’ since the sampling scheme in which the probability of a

39 _{This is the SOS children’s village in Dar-es-salaam which is a home designated for orphaned} children where they have assigned mothers and are expected to live as in a family life. The children’s home was one of the structures used as an intervention to support the OCHH although it was not in the area of the study. Children from the area of the study were taken in and it was interesting to understand how the children understand and perceive the institution and how it functions as an intervention for supporting OCHH.

40 _{Hellum, A. and Stewart, J (1998:18) found the ‘beetle dung’ as a new metaphor to replace snowball} since in a region like Africa there is little or no snow at all. They describe the ‘beetle dung’ as ‘a grounded research process in which the researcher collects data, sifts and analyses it, considers the implications of her findings, determines what to collect next to meet her needs and continues the collections and analysis cycle. In this research this method was used in the research generally and specifically in the sampling procedure.

population element being chosen is unknown. Of the four basic kinds of this sampling method snowball/beetle dung seem to have been appropriate although the OCHH as participants were not directly asked for names of other participants but from their narrations a list of institutions which matter to them were identified and the process continued.

In total, sixty three (63) children and one hundred and thirty three (133) adults participated in the study (see table 2 below). Eight OCHH, four girls and four boys and four from each district are core to the study and were engaged in the full process of the research. More time was taken with the eight OCHH than the other children who were mainly participants in FGD. The OCHH were visited at home, in school, at work and in church for those who were going to church. Some of them also participated in the FGD.

4.3.4.1 Basis for selection of the Eight OCHH

The selection process was guided by the decision to have children who are orphaned and are heading their households. It was also meant to have a small size with equal number in the two locations and four was seen as a good number. All the children identified by the officials in the district but did not meet the set criteria were not accepted. Children, who were former OCHH or were heading a household but living with an adult, were also not included in the list. It was then possible to obtain from the many children identified, eight OCHH. In Makete district all the OCHH identified and accepted were from one village only as the other village did not have any child who met the criteria. Although I had in mind having boys and girls, the selection process coicidentally lead into having two boys and two girls from each district.

From the outcome of discussions and observation of the core group of eight, more children were recruited in the study and in total fifty five more children participated but not as intensively as the eight. All but three of the children were orphaned. The orphaned children involved in the research brought in their experiences as former OCHH, children in OCHH, or orphaned children who have guardians. Others who had experiences in organising and working together as orphaned children also participated. The three children who were not orphaned participated in the study, one as a friend to OCHH, and the other two from a Child Headed Household (CHH)41.

The adult participants included relatives of the OCHH, neighbours, MM, MVCC, institutional leaders, villagers, heads and NGOS’ staff, government policy makers and academicians (As shown in figure 3, in chapter 4). In Makete the sample size was 28 children and 72 adults and in Karagwe 33 children and 47 adults and in Dar es Salaam 2 (two) children and 14 adults. The number of participants in this study is not for empirical generalisation as the methodology adopted allows the intensive study of a small number of research participants so as to obtain data and thus findings are generalised to the theory obtained from the data and not necessarily on the population (Bryman, 2004:285).

41 _{CHH is a household which is headed by a child who is not an orphan, in this case the child was} heading a household of three other children but they have parents who are alive but they had to head their household because their parents live far away from where they go to school and there is no school in the neighbourhood. The household was specifically made for them to enable them attend school. When I visited the parent he was of the view that he had to struggle to ensure his daughters go to school as he did not get that chance, since there is no school in the hamlet and the school village is about 15 kilometres away, he decided to send his daughters to a school where he can visit them and send them food easily.This is 17 kilometres away from where he lives.

Table 2. Number of Participants

Makete Karagwe DSM TOTAL

F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total

CHILDREN 14 14 28 12 21 33 2 - 2 28 35 63 ADULTS 32 40 72 16 31 47 5 9 14 53 80 133 TOTAL

46 64 100 28 52 80 7 8 16 81 115 196

Table 3. The Eight OCHH42

DISTRICT OCHH

PSEUDONYMS

AGE SEX LENGHTY OF

TIME AS OCHH NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD

KARAGWE KAKIA 18 FEMALE 5 YEARS TWO

KASHIGWA 15 MALE 6 YEARS ONE

KIMAKO * 23 MALE 7 YEARS SEVEN

KEVONA 17 FEMALE 7 MONTHS TWO

MAKETE KAHOO 18 FEMALE 6 YEARS TWO/THREE**

KECHEE 14 MALE 2 YEARS ONE

KEDI 17 FEMALE 2 YEARS TWO

KILI 16 MALE 4 YEARS FOUR/ONE***

42_*

Note: The age is of an adult but he was included due to the experience as he began to head a household when he was only 16 years. In the village he is still considered a child as he is still in school. It was difficult also to be sure of the exact age of most of the OCHH for lack of records such as birth certificates.

** Kahoo household had three members but one had been taken to an orphanage.

Table 4. Categories of Child Participants43