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Abbreviations/Acronyms
ACERDEN - African Centre for Rural Development & Environment OVC - Orphan and Vulnerable Children MOGSD - Ministry of Gender and Social Development WAEC - West African Council NECO - National Examination Council CEO - Chief Executive Officer LGA - Local Government Area JSS - Junior Secondary School SSS - Senior Secondary School Acknowledgement The African Centre for Rural Development & Environment (ACERDEN) gratefully acknowledge the financial and material support of the Ministry of Gender & Social Development (MOGSD) in the successful execution of this assignment. We look forward to the continued support of MOGSD so that activities in support of the Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) in the rural communities of Enugu State could be scaled up for higher achievements and maximum impact. Executive Summary Activities in support of targeted Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) in Igbo-Eze North LGA was carried out. In partnership with the Ministry of Gender & Social development (MOGSD) ACERDEN was able to support these OVCs with school fees, school uniforms/clothings, books, sandals and medicaments/drugs. Ten (10) OVCs benefited from this one-day exercise implemented on the 25th February, 2010. In addition, messages on the basic facts about HIV/AIDS and prevention strategies were presented. Counseling and voluntary testing were also carried out on the participants at the meeting. Parents and teachers solicited for continued support in the area of sexual and reproductive health education, nutrition, basic HIV testing for in-school youths in the area in addition to the present support received by the OVCs beneficiaries. Introduction: The African Centre for Rural Development& Environment (ACERDEN) has undertaken programmes and activities targeting the Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) for the past three years in Enugu East, Nsukka, Uzo-Uwani and Igbo-Eze North LGAs of Enugu State. ACERDEN partnered with the Ministry of Gender and Social Development in the implementation of most of these programmes and activities. For the execution of this assignment, the Enugu State Ministry of Gender and Social Development (MOGSD) supported ACERDEN with the sum of thirty-two thousand naira (N32,000.00) plus text books, notebooks ,school bags and health products for selected ten OVCs . The sum of N32,000.00 was ear-marked for school fees, WAEC/NECO, school uniforms and transportation. Implementation: The execution of this project in Igbo-Eze LGA was carried out on 25 February,2010.The venue was Community Secondary School, Udah where all the benefiting OVCs, care-givers ,teachers , other stakeholders and ACERDEN team converged .The exercise started with an opening prayer by the Chairman/CEO of ACERDEN, Dr Daniel S. Ugwu . A brief self- introduction was done by all individuals present at this occasion. This was followed by an opening remark by the Chairman of ACERDEN, Dr Ugwu that focused on the vision, mission, goals and objectives of ACERDEN as well as the aims of the visit and highlights of the activities of the day. Expectations of ACERDEN from the OVCs were also emphasized to include discipline, fear of God, and hard work if they must achieve success in life. A talk on Basic Facts about HIV/AIDS was presented by Mr Herbert Aneke, ACERDEN Volunteer and Laboratory Science Specialist. Questions and Answers Session followed immediately at the end of this important presentation. Voluntary counseling and testing was also carried out on the ten OVCs beneficiaries to determine their HIV status. A tailor who also participated in the event took measurement of the OVCs for sewing their school uniforms. Packs containing text books, note books, and health products were distributed to all ten benefiting OVCs with accompanying photographs. Light refreshments were served and group photograph taken. In total, about thirty people participated in this OVC activity in Igbo-Eze LGA. The programme ended with a closing prayer by the Principal of Community Secondary School, Udah, Mr Onah Samuel M. at about 4pm. Lessons Learnt The present magnitude or scale of intervention for OVCs in schools in the area is seriously at a low level. There is the need for increased support and scaling up of activities to support the OVCs and their families. Teachers and parents also need support in terms of capacity training on home based care and support, OVC management and HIV/AIDS Counseling among others. Procurement of sandals for the OVCs by the MOGSD without their size-specifications was counterproductive and problematic. Recommendations and Conclusion. Recommendations: In the light of the implementation of this OVC project, the following recommendations are considered necessary.
With the implementation of the above recommendations participating NGOs on the OVC projects will show greater performance and achievements. Annexures: List of Participants in the OVC Support Project, Igbo-Eze North LGA
Particulars of OVC Beneficiaries (i) Primary School Level (OVCs)
(ii) Junior Secondary School Level (OVCs)
(iii) Senior Secondary School Level (OVCs)
* PO = Paternal Orphan, MO = Maternal Orphan, DO = Double Orphan, SO = Single Orphan. |