Caring as a Moral, Practical and Powerful Endeavour: Peer Care in a Cambodian Orphanage

Citation

Emond R (2010) Caring as a Moral, Practical and Powerful Endeavour: Peer Care in a Cambodian Orphanage. British Journal of Social Work, 40 (1), pp. 63-81. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcn102

Abstract
Research on children's participation in domestic life has tended to focus on the experiences of those living within families. This article reports on a pilot project, undertaken in one Cambodian orphanage, which focused on the care that children provided to themselves and to one another. It argues that not only were such care practices manifest, but they were understood by children to contribute to their power and status within the orphanage as well as the construction of their individual moral self-identities. The boundaries of relationships between children were defined and redefined through care-related actions.

Keywords
Children; institutions; peer relationships; care

Journal
British Journal of Social Work: Volume 40, Issue 1

People

Professor Ruth Emond

Professor, Social Work