Summary
The project is especially intended to address the problems of children in Songea District to start with, as it is a problem to all Districts in Ruvuma Region. especially in terms of health, lifestyles and education needs, due to AIDS scourge in this District which has increased the number of orphans and children living in difficult situations, worsening their condition of living. The major goal of this project is to help these disadvantaged children get an opportunity to better life by supporting them in education, health, food, clothes and moral support, so they become self dependant and not depending on community they live in.
Challenge
The very low level of education among the whole population of the community in the District which has been attributed to the increasing number of orphans as a result of HIV and AIDS scourge has hit the District for many years. Subsistence agriculture being the major way of livelihood has made it very difficult for the parents/guardians to send their children to school due to the increasing cost of education. The most affected and vulnerable category here is the orphans with no proper care and protection, no education, no food, no clothes, no proper shelter and medical care. Worse still, some of the children at years below 10 are heading families (Children headed families) and taking responsibility of catering for the young ones as well as finding a way for their education. In an attempt to do so, they end up meeting with young men and women to earn survival with money of less than $1, coupled with HIV and AIDS. This has encouraged and increased the rate of infections among the young population in Songea District. The project is therefore initiated to target the orphans and the vulnerable children and to empower them by providing education and also empowering their guardians to carry out income generating activities that would further keep them even during the project exit and if the project ends.
Solution
To ensure Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (OVC) have better and sound livelihood for their development capacities
Activities/Solution of the problem:
· Support Orphans and OVC including disabled children through clothes, school fees, uniforms, shoes, other scholastic materials.
· Support good health service deliveries to orphans through the provision of improved Community Health Insurance Fund Cards and Birth Certificates.
· Organize meetings with the guardians, villagers, Ward and District leaders/actors.
· Organize meetings and focused group discussions with guardians, influential people and Financial Institutions
· To support guardians of the Orphans, OVC and Disabled Children through the establishment of WORTH Groups/activities
· Provide mosquito nets to the Orphans, OVC, Disabled Children and guardians