Psycho social challenges faced by children who are victims of rape in the victim support centre : a case study of Kwanobuhle area, Eastern Cape

The motivation for this study originated from the problem of children who are victims of rape in the victim support centers. The researcher became aware that most of the children needs more support services for counseling and after care services. The goal of the research was to explore the psychosocial challenges faced by children who are victims of Rape in the victim support Centre. The aim of the study was to determine the psychosocial effects (effects. challenges, support services they receive from professionals) as victims of rape in a victim support center. It was a case study of KwaNobuhle Area, Eastern Cape. The purpose was to identify gaps as there are minimal services rendered to children as rape victims in the victim support Centre. In order to meet the objectives of the study, interviews were conducted to 20 victims of rape (both boys and girls) as well as 6 different professionals working with rape cases from the arrival of the child from the opening until the finalization of the case. Data were analyzed according to the qualitative data - analysis procedures. The researcher utilized the phenomenological research design. The research domain where the interviews took place was at the KwaNobuhle Area under the Department of Social Development jurisdiction. In this study, 20 Xhosa speaking children of different ages, gender, educational standards, and socio-economic backgrounds as well as those who suffered different types of rape, as defined by the Sexual Related Matters Act 32 of 2007; they were all interviewed through the use of a semi-structured interview schedule. The participants were purposively selected as they were all at the victim support center. It has been found that some services are not provided within and are other professionals lack knowledge on how to work effectively with children as victims of rape To add on, the theoretical framework that was used in this study is the victim empowerment theory. This was used as a way of empowering the children who are victims of rape in the Victim Support Centres. The study found out that children who are victims of rape in the Victim Support Centres face psychosocial challenges for instance emotional, educational and behavioural challenges. Furthermore, the study also found out that there are few pschologists in the Victim Support Centres. Therefore, the study recommend that more psychologists should be employed at the Department of health and be placed in Victim Support Centres. More, so, there should be constant supervision and guidance on the care givers within the institution on how to effectively deal with the children who are victims of rape in VSC to avoid psychosocial challenges