08.C0808 Catholic Relief Services - OVC Care and Support Francistown

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) OVC program in Botswana starts from a strong base of partnership with the

Southern Africa Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) and the Catholic Vicariate of Francistown. This key

partnership has allowed the rapid involvement of CRS in five districts throughout northern Botswana. The

OVC program established strong linkages with the Social and Community Development offices of the Social

Welfare Department of the Botswana Government and the Tribal Administration in all the five districts. This

partnership will continue and be strengthened to scale up the program and eventually enable communities

to support OVC in a sustainable manner.

2007 accomplishments

The OVC program benefits from linkages with regional CRS OVC programs which offer considerable

experience and lessons learned. Active involvement of regional technical advisors as well as key program

staff from other country programs has been beneficial. A total of 24 OVC leaders and program staff were

sent for a one week training program to Masiye Camp in Zimbabwe. In addition, CRS have sought out good

practices on youth and community led programming as well as AB resources. These efforts expand service

to three and seven years old age groups in the northern districts of Botswana to enroll them in pre-school

and assure attendance. CRS addresses the needs of OVC ages 8-17 through the development and

support of OVC community level support activities. CRS linked with The Regional Psychosocial Support

Initiative for Children Affected by AIDS, poverty and conflict (REPSSI) specifically to explore the use of their

Journey to Life program. This program aims to support both caregivers and children through workshops

which encourage, not only reflection and dialogue, but also action to better meet the needs of vulnerable

children.

The program linked with SOS Children's Village and Light and Courage Centre to collaborate in experience

sharing and training for youth and field staff. The program will collaborate with Program Concern

International (PCI) who are in the process of starting a program in Botswana.

2008 plans

The program will scale up its activities and reach 6,000 OVC in 13 parishes in the Catholic Vicariate of

Francistown. The program also aims to reach 13,000 indirect beneficiaries. Activities will build on program

accomplishments and capacity and will continue to strengthen services, leadership roles and livelihoods

opportunities for the existing and proposed OVC program participants. 2008 plans will target 71 villages.

Enrollment of OVC in preschool will continue in the existing 27 preschools reaching 460 OVC. New

preschools will be identified to reach a total of 600 OVC. Block grants will include school fees, clothing,

meals for children, and improvement of facilities and services. Up to 100 OVC leaders and 100 community

leaders will be identified and trained to lead the initiation and implementation of community support

activities. The leaders will receive initial training through participation in the Masiye OVC support trainer of

trainer's camp in Zimbabwe.

The specific program activities will be defined individually for each village and will engage peer groups,

caregivers, community volunteer, and civil society organization, such as the Village Development

Committees, teachers, and other local government officials. The OVC leaders and community leaders will

receive additional support through exchange visits and training and workshops to be organized and

sponsored through the program, in collaboration with Salvation Army, REPSSI, Social Welfare Department

and NGOs involved in OVC programming. The trainings will include topics on HIV/AIDS prevention, Life

Skills, Behavioral Change Process, Leadership skills, etc. Support and training for the caregivers will be a

critical element for the successful expansion of the program.

Activities undertaken by OVC and community leaders include: establishment of weekly psycho-social

support groups with facilitated discussions designed to address the needs and concerns of OVC and how

caregivers and communities can help create an enabling environment for OVC livelihoods development;

awareness building on OVC rights; learning about government services and how communities can help fully

utilize these services; improvements to a community based structure to be used for meetings and events;

development of awareness building and IEC materials.

The program will target 710 OVC who have dropped out of secondary school or have finished school and

have limited opportunities for livelihood activities, and no opportunity for higher education. Activities will

include visits from working professionals, vocational schools and teachers intended to expose and inform

OVC about various professions and to inspire interest. Program staff will identify a volunteer in the village

to collect career resource materials such as job announcements or job market studies and organize a

central place in the village where this information can be accessed. With assistance and materials from

program staff, the volunteers will organize discussion and learning sessions on how to learn more about

potential jobs, prepare a C.V., make contact, and apply for opportunities. Each OVC will also be supported

to either enroll in a short training course or work as an apprentice with an experienced professional. One

possible activity could be to carry out a Participatory Livelihoods Assessment with affected OVC and the

community.

CRS will support the capacity building plan of the Vicariate by obtaining external trainers (e.g. HIV/AIDS

training for the Clergy is planned for November 2007) and through specific trainings using tools and

manuals developed in-house by CRS technical staff. The in-house trainings may include: program

management and monitoring and evaluation; finance management and budgeting training; advocacy

training using the CRS advocacy training manual. CRS will dedicate technical advisors within the southern

Africa region or globally who will lead these in-house trainings.