SUMMARY:

The proposed activities are to enable households, families, churches, and communities to provide support

to children orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS. AERDO will work closely with local partners to develop

community-based OVC support interventions that respond to their psychosocial needs, strengthens the

economic coping capacities of caregivers, links children and families to available health and social services,

and provides food contributions, and trains caregivers and children in basic hygiene and disease

prevention. Trainings in and the use of curricula such as "Our Children" will serve to raise awareness of

OVC issues, reduce stigma, and empower communities to support and nurture OVC. The emphasis areas

are community mobilization (major: 55%), training (minor: 20%), linkages with other sectors and initiatives

(minor: 20%), needs assessment (minor: 10%), quality assurance (minor: 10%), strategic information

(minor: 10%), local organizational capacity development (minor: 15%) and food/nutrition (minor: 10%). The

primary target populations are OVC, caregivers (including PLWHA caregivers), faith-based organizations

(FBOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), volunteers, community leaders and religious leaders. The

coverage area is the West, South, Northwest, Nippes, Artibonite, and North Departments.

BACKGROUND:

This activity is expanding on the current President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-funded

COP 2907 Track 1 OVC activities carried out by AERDO in Haiti. Each partner agency will work with the

Haiti Ministry of Health (MOH) at the community level, and World Concern Development Organization

(WCDO)—lead agency; will also coordinate with the MOH at the national level. Implementing the program

are CRWRC, OB, SA, WH and WR. All are NGOs. WCDO and implementing sub partners will bolster the

economic abilities of OVC households through micro-credit, and activities will be monitored to ensure

females are at least 50% of the beneficiaries. In addition, sensitization trainings will highlight the unique

needs and vulnerabilities of female OVC.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Strengthen 440 caregivers (including elderly caregivers) supporting 4,300 OVC. An inventory

will be completed to identify the OVC households that will be included in the program; beneficiaries will

include households with OVC under five years of age. A select number of OVC households will receive

training in basic business skills and receive small start up capital. Selection will be based on an

assessment of the individual caregiver's experience, ability, and capacity to run a small business or income

generating activity. Basic farming resources will also be distributed, along with trainings in effective farming

practices. OVC households will be linked to essential health and social services where available.

Caregivers will be trained in basic hygiene and disease prevention. AERDO will link voluntary counseling

and testing/preventing mother to child transmission/anti-retroviral services (VCT/PMTCT/ARV) sites to OVC

households, and will accept referrals from these sites. De-worming medications and Vitamin-A

supplements will be given to all OVC households. In addition, trained volunteers will teach caregivers about

the legal rights of OVC, including inheritance rights. Volunteers will also provide psychosocial care to all

OVC. PEPFAR funds will be used to recruit and train local caregivers. During the current funding year,

WCDO has strengthened 763 caregivers supporting 2,915 OVC.

ACTIVITY 2: AERDO will recruit, mobilize and strengthen local partners (churches, FBOs, and CBOs) into

the program. These local partners will be supported in the development and maintenance of their own OVC

programs. These community-driven OVC programs will be encouraged to establish caregivers' care groups

that will further strengthen caregivers supporting OVC. In addition, OVC will receive nutritional support and

local volunteers will serve as mentors/role models. Trained volunteers will regularly visit OVC households,

including child-headed households, to assess needs, provide psychosocial support and aid to meet basic

needs. PEPFAR funds will be used to recruit and train local partners. During the current funding year,

WCDO has enabled 22 local organizations and 67 churches to develop and maintain their own OVC

support programs.

ACTIVITY 3: Increase the capacity of older children (aged 15 to 17) to meet their own needs. This will

include training and mentoring older OVC in animal husbandry and household farming. PEPFAR funds will

be used to conduct trainings and provide small capital (e.g. goats). During the current funding year, WCDO

has assisted 191 older OVC to meet their needs.

ACTIVITY 4: Ensure access to vocational or formal education for OVC. This activity will be conducted in

selected cases and based on need. AERDO will work with local schools--assisting OVC to attend school or

receive vocational training. PEPFAR funds will be used for school supplies, uniforms, and fees.

ACTIVITY 5: Raise awareness among families, churches, communities and society in general to create an

environment that enables support for OVC. AERDO will enable community and religious leaders to clearly

articulate traditional and faith-based values regarding care of OVC. Curriculums such as "Our Children" will

sensitize and enable local leaders to communicate the needs of OVC including issues of social abuse, child

slavery (restavek), adoption, child trade, stigmatization, and legal rights. Broadcast media will highlight the

treatment of OVC and provide a context for reflection and discussion. PEPFAR funds will be used to

conduct trainings and to produce/broadcast Public Service Announcements (PSA).

In regard to the issues of U.S. Legislative interest, please note that for every activity, we will track the

number of OVC who are female so that at least 50% of the beneficiaries are girls. OVC female caregivers

will also have access to income and productive resources through the availability of microfinance and

income generation in the form of goat loans. Stigma and discrimination will be reduced through sensitivity

trainings provided to the local organizations working with the OVC, as well as the HIV/AIDS training on

transmission and prevention which will demystify and destigmatize the disease. Stigma associated with

HIV/AIDS will also be reduced through the use of mass media campaigns.

A public/private partnership is possible because MedPharm is providing anti-parasite medications (valued at

US$5.288 per tab) and Vitamin A supplements, so that OVC and their caregivers can receive this treatment

to boost their nutrition.

These activities relate to the PEPFAR 2-7-10 goals by providing care and support to OVC and their

households. These activities will expand upon the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 targets of 4,130 OVC served by

OVC programs and 1,570 providers/caretakers trained in caring for OVC. WCDO fully expects to reach all

targets by September 30, 2008.

EMPHASIS AREAS:

Community mobilization (major: 55%), training (minor: 20%), linkages with other sectors and initiatives

(minor: 20%), needs assessment (minor: 10%), quality assurance (minor: 10%), strategic information

(minor: 10%), local organizational capacity development (minor: 15%) and food/nutrition (minor: 10%)

TARGETS:

For the year ending September 30, 2009, WCDO plans to reach the following targets: 440 caregivers

strengthened to support 4,300 OVC (50/50 male/female) affected by HIV/AIDS. ***These targets are

estimates based on FY 2007 semi-annual actuals, so numbers may be adjusted for the FY 2008 Annual

Work Plan.

Activity Narrative: