This activity relates to activities in CRS Success HBHC; HTXS, and HVCT; other track 1.0 OVC projects,

and RAPIDS HKID.

This is the fifth year of operations for this Track 1.0 OVC Project, Support to OVC affect by HIV/AIDS,

implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS). This project coordinates closely with the CRS SUCCESS

home-based care project in Zambia. This partnership has increased its effectiveness in the last few years.

In FY 2006, CRS OVC reached 3,658 OVC with various services, including: educational assistance,

psychosocial support; child protection; health, shelter and economic empowerment through the training of

73 care givers. In FY 2007, the project focused on provision of 3 core services, namely child protection,

education, and psychosocial support. As at end of August 2007, the program had served a total of 10,867

OVC and trained 330 caregivers.

In FY 2008, the CRS OVC project will ensure that OVC have access to high quality services. In addition,

the project will ensure that faith based organizations (FBOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs)

have sustained capacity to deliver high quality OVC services. To reach these objectives, the project will

intensify community mobilization. At least 20 community mobilization activities aimed at raising the

awareness of OVC issues will be conducted by the Diocesan partners at the project level. The target group

includes but not limited to local community leaders, religious leaders, guardians, teachers and OVC

beneficiaries. The campaigns will also enhance community participation in identifying volunteers, setting

criteria for OVC enrollment, stigma reduction, and strengthening the extended family system. Community

mobilization activities are designed to build community awareness about the needs of OVC and to promote

a sense of community ownership of the activities being implemented. Examples of these activities include

drama performances, social activities, and psychosocial support and recreation activities for youth.

CRS OVC will continue to follow and strengthen the established identification process for OVC. OVC are

first identified by caregivers, through home-based care programs and home visitations. The children who

are identified are then verified by community leaders/committees. After the verification exercise, a direct

registration form is used as a final document to take the client on as a beneficiary. Thereafter, the form is

sent to the parish for purpose of updating the beneficiary list.

The project will continue to support two diocesan partners of the Catholic Church (Mongu Diocese in

Western Zambia and Solwezi diocese in Northwestern Zambia). CRS OVC links closely to RAPIDS OVC to

avoid duplication and overlap, as well as to other Track 1 OVC activities. It also integrates with the CRS

SUCCESS HBC project in areas served by both projects, to incorporate care and support to OVCs in home-

based care settings. Support and care services for OVCs will include (1) educational support, (which

includes the payment of school fees, provision of uniforms and other educational materials); (2)

psychosocial support (which includes addressing the emotional, spiritual, mental, physical and social needs

of children); (3) and Child Protection, which involves sensitizing parents/guardians and the community at

large about the rights of children and birth registration. The project will further train OVC guardians in early

childhood development skills in order for them to adequately engage the under-five OVC and ensure quality

child growth.

The project will focus on these three services to ensure that children receive at least three services for them

to be counted as primary direct beneficiaries. Other children will be reached with less than three services

among the core services will be counted under supplemental direct support. The project estimates that it will

reach 15,500 OVC (13,000 Direct and 2,500 Supplemental) in FY 2008 through community mobilization and

closer linkages with other sectors and initiatives.

Linkages with other sectors and initiatives shall be emphasized in order to promote leveraging. As result the

program has strategically selected its operating areas to link to other USG funded OVC projects (such as

RAPIDS), home-based care, and ART programs. Linkages with other sectors will include education support

for OVC, paralegal counseling for OVC households, linkages to nutritional education and support programs.

Partners will conduct training for OVC caregivers and receive support from CRS in quality assurance and

local organizational capacity development. CRS will train 270 volunteer caregivers in psychosocial skills,

basic counseling skills, monitoring and evaluation, child protection issues and nutritional education.

CRS will provide partners with guidance in quality assurance by conducting site visits, providing technical

support, and systematic feedback on financial and programmatic reports. In addition, CRS will build the

capacity of partners in programmatic and financial management through trainings and site visits. Utilizing

the capacity and trainings from CRS, the partners will in turn train and support faith based OVC programs in

Northwestern, and Western provinces .CRS will work with partners to strengthen parish and community

structures to ensure sustainability of activities.

All FY 2008 targets will be reached by September 30, 2009.