AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #367 - A national mobilization of communities to care for orphans and vulnerable children: experiences in rolling out Journey of Life in Botswana
Authors: Presenting Author: Mrs Kefilwe Mokokwe-Malebe - Department of Social Welfare
Additional Authors: Ms Karen Romano, Mr Alex Tigere, Mr Tapfumo Morove,
Aim: Journey of Life, a key REPPSI methodology for community mobilization, is being championed by the Department of Social Services, Government of Botswana, in collaboration with Project Concern International. Using a series of workshops, this resource encourages reflection, dialogue and action among children, caregivers, and concerned community members. As a result, community action plans are developed to support vulnerable children and their families. As part of the national roll out, the Department has sponsored training of community facilitators across the country. In addition, their support has facilitated district level officials to support these action plans. A year into the national roll out of Journey of Life, changes in communities are already being recognized. While traditionally, community discussions do not include children, the structure of these discussions creates this important space for children’s voices to be heard. This has allowed adults, including local leadership, to understand that children have solutions to challenges within their community. Moreover, government support has encouraged local leaders to implementation of community action plans. Strengthening capacities of communities to care: a case study of mainstreaming psychosocial support into early childhood development programmes in Kenya Kathleen Okatcha1, Edwick Mapalala2, Peter Masessa2 1 Kenya Orphans Rural Development Programme 2 REPSSI Driven by passion, a group of dedicated individuals started the Kenya Orphans Rural Development Programme, as they repeatedly saw their community members getting sick and dying. In the late 1990s, as the epidemic was escalating, the most prevalent attitude was community acceptance of their lot as victims of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It was difficult for them to talk about their plight and impossible for them to perceive a way out of this quagmire. As one of REPSSI’s first partners, KORDP engaged first with Journey of Life. This methodology that emphasised community ownership and empowerment set these discussions apart from all others: after discussing their challenges, KORDP would ask the community how it planned to solve them. A key theme that has emerged from these discussions is the recognized importance of early childhood education. Communities lacking the most basic resources have managed to cobble together tin shacks and mud huts, and have identified and trained community volunteers to become ECD teachers. This presentation will describe the challenges and outcomes of this community-based initiative highlighting the attitudinal changes that have taken place from local leaders through to the elderly.
Go Back