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Title: Self-sustainability Initiative For All Orphans
Location:
Categories: Children’s Rights
Health & Wellness
Poverty
Status:
In Progress
Timeline:
Ongoing
Description:
A project towards supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children in basic needs, income generating projects and their psychosocial support needs.
Background:
Background
On the 20th of September in the year 1999 a group of young people converged at a local Community Center and deliberated on the issues affecting orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), it is from this meeting that the Community Based Organization (SIFAO) was born.
Comprehensive/Holistic Approach
The main focus of the meeting was to bring together various young people with knowledge of the OVC status in their respective areas and share their experiences in a view to identify what works in taking care of the basic needs of OVCs.
The major outcome of the meeting was the identification of a holistic approach in dealing with issues affecting the OVCs. The young people present had a unique opportunity to speak of their own models of successful practice that they had seen in their communities, which facilitated the development of community-driven holistic approach in addressing orphans needs. The approach emphasizes on the need to support OVCs whilst they are in their respective communities rather than putting them in orphanages and recognizing community full participation.
Community-driven Holistic Package (CHP)
Overall, the community-driven holistic approach is aimed at:
Improving the quality of life of OVCs through providing the basic needs that include education, health, food, shelter and clothing
Building capacities of OVCs in coping with life situations through equipping them with entrepreneurship skills and formulation of IGPs
Provide psychosocial support to OVCs through promotion of access to recreational facilities available in their local areas.
Strengthen relationships with similar projects through advocacy, networking and partnership building
To achieve its main purpose of CHP the project has been conceptualized to include a participatory research component, which is oriented to gather useful information and mobilize community interest that will be helpful in project implementation.
Purpose – Community-driven Holistic Approach
It is only when a community takes ownership of the issue affecting the OVCs amidst them, can an environment be created where stigma of not having a parent disappears, where the rights of a child without a parent to protect these rights can be respected and where every child can experience the love, care and nurturing that every human being needs to grow and thrive
The Issue
Death of parents has caused the increase in OVC cases, HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria among other diseases have caused rise in adult mortality rate, hence many OVC cases are due to loss of parents through AIDS Related illnesses. Our focus on HIV and AIDS is a response to the enormous threat to the livelihood of children whose parents have died due to HIV and AIDS related illnesses.
The AIDS pandemic is leaving one or more generations of children to be raised in households headed by children themselves, grandparents or and other guardians. Child-headed families are on the increase, often placing the elder child at risk of foregoing access to schooling, because they are taking over that role of breadwinner and caregiver of younger siblings, resulting in a seemingly unstoppable poverty spiral.
These children are at greater risk of malnutrition, illness, early school termination, poor shelter and clothing not excluding abuse and sexual exploitation. Many also have to come to grips with the stigma and discrimination often associated with AIDS, which may deprive them of love and basic social and educational services.
Where there is no breadwinner, young girls are too often pressurized into participating in sexual activities in exchange of money, in order to be able to survive. Teenage boys are lured by peers to participate in petty crime, so that they too may afford the good things in life, which they see others having. All these children have one thing in common: they have been made vulnerable by social circumstances, which keep them bound in the destructive cycle of poverty and despair.
The Opportunity
SIFAO developed 3 main opportunities, which the OVCs can meaningfully utilize. The opportunities are oriented at creating self-sustenance and eradicating dependency syndrome as well as extreme poverty further more through SIFAO’s IGP programs OVCs are equipped with life survival skills that are helpful in their present and future lives.
Opportunities explored:
Basic Needs Assistance – OVCs can have access to basic education, good health, proper shelter, nutritious food and good clothing, which are helpful in developing the well being of a child.
Income Generating Projects – OVCs have access to information and resources to start and run projects that provide monetary resources that will cater for basic needs when they are above the age of 18.
Recreational Facilities Support – OVCs have time to socialise through participation in-group social activities that can be used to help address their psychosocial issues
Action Research – communities have the opportunity to give in ideas since they will be the core guardians of OVCs in the community.
Goal
Improve the social, health, development and quality of life of OVCs
Objectives:
Specific Objectives
To instill a sense of self reliance (responsibility) in OVCs towards oneself, others and the community
To empower OVCs with knowledge and skills that are helpful in their present and future lives
To expound contemporary issues affecting OVCs and discern solutions in a more favorable way
To create OVCs’ oneself sustainability by embarking in IGP
Milestones:
Established a Soap Making Project
Established a Gardening Project
Conducted a community sensitisation and orientation seminar
Budget:
The budget presented is for the Jun 2006 - Jun 2007 Implementation period and the amounts are in USD$
BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE - 6,351
INCOME GENERATING PROJECT SUPPORT - 505
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FACILITY SUPPORT - 1009
INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING/STRENGTHENING -20,162
Grand Total in USD$ 28,027
Needs:
Office equipment that includes: Computers, printers, photocopiers
Project Vehicle
Supplimentary assistance for Project Staff
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