DURBAN - A social worker and lecturer’s desire to ensure the inclusion of children as young as 6-years-old in serious discussions around Covid-19, has resulted in funding and her book being translated into six languages.
Dr Maud Mthembu, a University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Social Work lecturer, penned a Zulu children’s book about Covid-19 titled: Uhambo lwami ngesikhathi sekhovithi – My journey during Covid-19.
The book uses illustrations and simple language to tell the story of Nsimu, a 10-year-old child whose family was affected by Covid-19 and the impact the disease had on the family.
The story is told from Nsimu’s perspective and is intended for children aged 6 and above. The book has since been translated into five more languages – Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Afrikaans and English.
“I did not want kids to get left behind in the discussions around Covid-19,” Mthembu said.
Last year, during a hard lockdown, she said they could not do some of the projects that were planned.
“I saw a gap. I realised that information on Covid-19 was not child friendly. I wondered who was helping the children to deal with the losses of family members. When writing stories for children, the context and setting of the story are important. This book tells the story from the perspective of a child from a rural area.
“All children can identify with the story and understand the impact of the pandemic on their lives. Despite the relatively low number of Covid-19-related deaths among children, many have lost their caregivers or family members to the virus.”
Mthembu believes the book is appropriate for initiating Covid-19-related conversations with children and helping them express their experiences and feelings related to the virus and loss using child-friendly language.
“The book theme is about hope and deaths. Kids losing family members, and people they know. Sensitises kids to losses experienced by their friends. The book helps kids to deal with matters in the therapeutic comment section.
Mthembu recently received funding for the production of an animated production based on the book.
“We are working on a 15-minute animated movie around Covid-19 issues, including the vaccines – where all kids can have access.”
Mthembu partnered with Lulisandla Kumntwana, an NGO from Mseleni, to distribute 400 books to children affected by Covid-19.
“To date, we have distributed over 3 000 books for free, and we still are continuing to do so.”
Mthembu said she was interested in child protection, parenting and developing child-centred counselling tools.
Her community engagement initiatives focus on ensuring that her research findings are conversed back to the communities to contribute to sustainable development and upliftment.
Mthembu is the chairperson of UKZN-Core, a community and research engagement. She is involved in various international collaborative research projects in Germany and Jamaica, serving as a principal investigator.
She is also part of the Ma’at Institute established within UKZN.
“Our services include free teletherapy, Covid-19 debriefing, mental health and wellness, education, career-pathing and is also spiritually focused,” she said.
Daily News