A critical part of responding to HIV/AIDS is providing care and support for those infected and affected by the epidemic. Several reports have shown that although there have been efforts in the areas of care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, limited attention has been given to those affected by the epidemic, such as OVCs (orphans and vulnerable children).
Many OVC programs focus on meeting only the basic material needs of these children. It is vital to also focus on educational, psychological and emotional needs and to offer protection from stigma and discrimination, abuse and exploitation.
The Window of Hope project is an OVC psycho-social support project that works with children between the ages of 8-13 by providing them with weekly life skills education sessions conducted by community youth volunteers (‘child facilitators’). The life skills sessions are conducted using the Window of Hope manual and feature topics such as self-esteem, HIV prevention, gender roles, communication, sexual abuse, and exploitation.
After the funding from Global Fund for Children ended in 2010, EVA decided to work with youth groups to continue this valuable program as part of our sustainability strategy. We helped them develop constitutions, get registered, and develop letter headed papers, as well as train on monitoring and evaluation, proposal writing, and financial management. This community-driven approach to the project is what helps ensure activities are sustained at the end of the project funding cycle.
“ages of 8-13 by providing them with weekly life skills education sessions conducted by community youth volunteers (‘child facilitators’). The life skills sessions are conducted using the Window of Hope manual and feature topics such as self-esteem, HIV prevention, gender roles, communication, sexual abuse, and exploitation.