The child within : connecting with children who have experienced grief and loss

This workbook arose out of a need expressed by volunteer caregivers who were experiencing serious difficulties in looking after orphaned children. The book breaks new ground in promoting resilience in children who have suffered grief and personal loss. It does so by enabling adults who are child care-givers - as parents, guardians, volunteers or professionals - to rediscover and appreciate their own 'child within'. Through structured workshop sessions, participants learn how to communicate more openly and effectively with children. The book incorporates a Christian approach to children as 'a gift from the Lord' (Psalm 127:3), but can be used by a wide variety of community groups and organisations. Although based on professional research on child and adolescent development, the book is written in clear, simple language, and is easily accessible to non-professional child caregivers. During the process of developing and testing the book, the Khulakahle ('to grow well' in Xhosa) Child Counselling & Training Forum was established, in order to carry on the work of training child caregivers