This 68-page publication forms part of the "Called to Care" toolkit, a series of practical, action-oriented handbooks and mini manuals on issues related to HIV/AIDS, designed for use by church leaders, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Child Within, the sixth book in the series, aims to promote resilience in children who have suffered grief and personal loss. It arose out of a need expressed by volunteer caregivers who were experiencing serious difficulties in looking after orphaned children. The book is designed to be used to facilitate workshop sessions to help participants learn how to communicate more openly and effectively with children. According to the publishers, it does so by enabling adults who are child care-givers - parents, guardians, volunteers, or professionals - to rediscover and appreciate their own "child within".

The workbook 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, designed to be accessible to non-professional child caregivers.

The Khulakahle (“to grow well” in Xhosa) Child Counselling & Training Forum, which was established during the process of developing and testing the book, also contributed to the production of this material.

To order copies please contact Teaching-aids At Low Cost (TALC) (contact details below).

In South Africa, please contact Amanda Carstens at the Christian Literature Fund (contact details below).

Organisations based elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa that cannot afford to purchase the book may request a free copy from the Strategies for Hope Trust.

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AF-AIDS e-forum post on September 9, 2008; and Strategies for Hope website on October 10 2008.