”Once there was a girl who was born in jail…” - A narrative study of a group of children of incarcerated parents in India

Abstract

This study investigates how a group of children of incarcerated parents in India make meaning in their lives and how India Vision Foundation affects their meaning-making process. The empirical data is in the form of life stories and observations. Using Narrative Analysis, Coping Theory and Human Ecology Theory, the data is analysed. The study shows that the children express relations, education and future goals as the most important factors in their meaning making. These values coincide with the efforts of India Vision Foundation. The study also shows that India Vision Foundation intervenes in and affects the children’s lives on several different levels, which makes India Vision Foundation a vital aspect of the children’s meaning making.