Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

National Headlines:

Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Monday, 21 November 2011 04:32

ABOUT THE OVC PROGRAM

The OVC problem in Uganda continues to grow from 7.5 million in 2001 to 8 million in 2009. It has been aggravated by HIV/AIDS, poverty, inadequacy of support services among others. The IRCU OVC program contributes to the national OVC response through faith-based efforts to address the plight of vulnerable children in Uganda. Inter-Religious Council believes that a family is the optimal environment for child care, growth and develop- ment and therefore in our focus is on strengthening and sup- porting the capacity of families and communities to protect and care for OVC.

OBJECTIVES

To strengthen the capacity of households, caregivers and service providers to protect and Care for OVC.
To expand the provision of essential services for OVC and their households.

ACTIVITIES

IRCU is working with Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), Local religious leaders, community volunteers and other recognized government structures such as the probation Officer, Commu- nity Development Officers/Assistants, Family and child protec- tion unit under Police, LCI committees (Vice chairpersons at all levels), Child Rights Monitors and the entire community to provide support to OVC and their caregivers in 6 core pro- gram areas:

Formal Education at Primary and Secondary Levels:

alt IRCU supports OVC with scholastic materials, uniforms, money for meals and in some cases tuition top-up. The children are also visited at home and in schools by FBO staff and religious leaders to ensure they continue with their education. Adoles- cent girls are provided with sanitary towels and inner wears to minimize drop outs due to changes that happen at puberty. Items like school bags and shoes are provided depending on the needs of different schools and community priority areas. IRCU support aims at enhancing enrolment, retention, good performance and completion of formal education by support- ed OVC.

Vocational and Apprenticeship Skills Training

The program supports training for out of school OVC in vo- cational and apprenticeship with the aim of equipping OVC with practical and marketable skills. Areas of training include tailoring, carpentry, motor vehicle mechanics, saloon, catering and confectionery, metal fabrication, brick lying and mason- ry, water and electrical installation, and shoe making among others. The beneficiaries are supported with tuition fees, uni- forms/overcoats, stationery, training materials within accept- able limits and start up kits upon graduation, as a source of self-employment. alt

Socio-Economic strengthening for OVC and their households

This is done as a way of supporting and strengthening families and care givers as the first line of response in sustaining OVC care and support services. IRCU trains OVC care givers in identification, initiation and management of small scale busi- ness enterprises to sustain care for OVC and the entire house- hold. After the training, OVC caregivers are facilitated to set up groups to harness and maximize their potentials in income generation and negotiating for fair prices for their products.

Psychosocial/Spiritual Care and Support

Psychosocial support helps vulnerable children and caregivers to cope with mental and emotional challenges. Psychosocial support services are provided as an integrated package in all forms of OVC care and support activities through spiritual counseling, life skills, play therapy, and memory books and will writing training. The intervention involves training community and religious leaders, OVC caregivers in basic skills of han- dling emotional needs of the children.

Increasing access to HIV/AIDS treatment and general health care

The program ensures that OVC have access to health care services; get adequate medical care and are informed about HIV/AIDS prevention. The children are provided with general health care in terms of meeting medical bills and transport to the nearest health unit. Efforts are being made to integrate activities especially where the FBOs have a health facility with- in the proximity of the OVC program. Referrals are made to other health centers in cases where OVC require specialized attention, such as those on Antiretroviral Therapy. In addition, IRCU provides insecticide Treated Mosquito nets & trainings for caregivers, religious and local leaders, teachers and children on issues of sanitation and hygiene as one way of reducing preventable infections among OVC.

Legal Support and Child protection services

IRCU promotes protection of children’s rights as well as strengthening the community capacity by training religious leaders, local council leaders, care givers, school teachers, community volunteers to identify, report and follow-up on cas- es of child abuse.

APPROACH TO SERVICE DELIVERY

Using the Faith Based Approach, the program is implemented through Religious leaders and structures and is guided by the national OVC implementation guidelines.