A call to care : exploring the social politics of compassionate care and rescue in the context of a care programme for children in contemporary Swaziland

This paper draws on ethnographic research conducted in 2011 and 2012 in an abandoned mining town in Northern Swaziland. In 2001 the isolated 'ghost town' was bought by a Faith Based Organisation and transformed into what the organisation terms a vibrant 'sustainable orphan village'. Against a backdrop of political uncertainty, deepening economic-crisis related poverty, increasing numbers of children in need of extra-familial care and the parallel proliferation of humanitarian organisations being set up to deal with these systemic vulnerabilities, this thesis explores the practices and politics of childcare and rescue in contemporary Swaziland. Focusing on a single extended case study, I trace the material affects and effects of interventionist help. Situating this study in a broader global, particularly Christian philanthropic preoccupation with the project of 'saving children', this study forms part of a burgeoning body of anthropological theory and research that critically explores the logic and practice of what Didier Fassin (2011) calls 'humanitarian government'.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Social Anthropology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Marshak, Naomi

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Levine, Susan

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13928

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13928