Spiritual narratives of female adolescent orphans affected by HIV and Aids and poverty

Abstract

HIV and Aids have been described as the worst epidemic the world has ever seen. It does not only take thousands of lives but it also deprives people of having a respectable life. This research is interested in what Aids is doing to the innocent children of South Africa. Children are losing not one, but sometimes both parents due to this epidemic and are left alone to fend for themselves. Young girls and boys are losing their most important role models, their mothers and fathers, during their adolescent years. Because of the dire poverty especially girls are at times sexually exploited by malevolent men. This research explores those factors which contribute to their survival despite horrifying conditions. By using the narrative approach it reveals the truly amazing stories of "the soul survivors".