Abstract
This qualitative study explored protective factors in implementing
participatory rights for six-to-seven-year-old children living in
seven residential care facilities in Harare, Zimbabwe. The study
consisted of seven semi- structured interviews using open-ended
questions with seven directors. The residential care facilities were
purposefully sampled based on the style they adopted, namely
five homes adopted the household unit and two the dormitory
style. Through thematic data analysis, four themes were identified
that promoted protective factors for implementing participatory
rights of children in the early years of development residing at
the homes, namely: the use of an open-door policy, the
household unit style, foster care intervention programmes, and
the availability of mass media. Based on the findings several
recommendations are made on how to further protect the
participatory rights of the children. Although the study was
conducted in Zimbabwe, it has global value because there are
residential care facilities in all countries.