The PALM scheme is significantly altering family care dynamics due to the absence of parental figures at home. Talei Cama, a child protection specialist with UNICEF, highlighted that workers involved in the scheme often leave home for long periods, resulting in shifts in responsibilities that may lead to generational trauma.
Cama noted that there is a heavier burden placed on mothers who remain behind as their partners work overseas under the PALM initiative. “There’s a huge shift in gender roles,” she stated. Mothers are not only responsible for childcare but are also taking on additional duties such as household management, farming, and other tasks traditionally handled by their partners.
Moreover, older siblings are stepping up to care for younger children since mothers are often the only parental figures available. This situation leads to these older children adopting roles that require them to act as premature adults, shouldering responsibilities beyond what is typically expected of them.
Grandparents also play a crucial role as they often step in to care for these children, adding to their own burdens. Cama emphasized that the overall effects of the PALM scheme illustrate a complex relationship between increased responsibilities and the emotional strain on families dealing with these changes.