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Week 1

Lesson 1

Introduction

In any community or society people live in family set ups. A community is a group of
people living together in a place. Everyone is a member of a family. A family is the basic
social unit in a community set up.

Types of families

1. Nuclear family
It is made up of two adults, who are husband and wife and their children.
a) Monogamous family: made up of a husband, wife and their children.
b) Polygamous family: it is made up of a husband, two or more wives and their
children. All the children are from one husband so the polygamous family is
believed to be a nuclear family in Indigenous Religion.
2. Child headed family
It is made up of children. One of them takes the role of the parent and looks
after the other siblings. This family could be a result of parents passing away or
parents living in the diaspora.
3. Single parent family
It is made up of one parent and children. This family could be because of a
divorce or death of a spouse.

Responsibilities of parents and children

1. Parents – They have a role of taking care of their children. They take care of
all household expenses and maintain peace in the house. Parents teach
children values and pay for their education, provide shelter, food and clothing
for their children. They teach children how to behave and be of good value in
the society.

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2. Children: In nuclear and single parent, families are responsible for looking
after their possessions. The elder children help their parents take care of the
young.

Exercise 1

1. List the members of your family

.

2. Write down the responsibilities of parents in a family.

.

3. Name some of the possessions that children in a family must look after.
.

4. Describe how an elder child can help his or her siblings.

.

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Lesson 2

Family and surrounding community

Cheneso is a grade 5 learner at Honde Primary School. She comes from
Karimba Village in ward 10, Buhera District. She is the last born in a family of
six. Both her parents are civil servants. Her father works at the registry's
offices at the nearest growth point. Her mother is a teacher at the local
school.

Mr Mhaka, Cheneso's father, is one of the village committee members of the

Village head’s advisor. Mrs Mhaka is the secretary of the burial society in that
community. Whenever meetings are held in the village, both Mr ond Mrs
Mhaka attend.

In Cheneso's village, men ore the heads of families and do all the work to
support their families. Women normally take care of children as well as their
homes. Children usually help their parents in their fields or cooperative
gardens and any other work at home. On school days, children go to school.

Roles of the family in the community

Below is a list of some of the family roles in the community:
 Promote peace
 Work together with other community members
 Volunteer in community activities
 Keep the community safe and clean
 Help the needy

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Institutions in the community

Below are some institutions found in the community:

 School
 Clinic
 Hospital
 Church
 Registrar’s office
 Town house or city hall
 Orphanage
 Old peoples home

Exercise 2

1. How many children are in Mr Mhaka’s family?

.
2. What is the family totem of the Mhaka’s?
.
3. Write Mr Mhaka’s duties in the home and in the community.
.

4. Write two of Cheneso and her sibling’s responsibilities at home and in the
community.

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5. List any three institutions in your community.
.

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