Abstract presentation by Melody M

Chikumbu - ZCDAProject title :Community Based HIV Response

among Children

Target Population :Mobile and Vulnerable Population/IDPs

Geographical coverage : Kwekwe District: Ward 4 - Tiger Reef, Blackman and Chiundura B

Informal Settlements

Project description •The project aimed at training 25 peer counsellors and 50 peer educators. •Main targets for training - children between the ages 12-17 and adults representing parents. •Raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, Child abuse, reporting procedures within three communities with around 2000 households. •Under the Zimbabwe National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (NAP for OVC), the children would say “Anything for us without us is against us.’ •Project therefore sought to meaningfully involve children through building their capacities towards responding to HIV and AIDS and child abuse issues as well as fostering community development.

Description of context  •Informal settlements due to mine closures, farm invasions and displacements•High HIV risky behaviour and increased child abuse cases.•Over-crowdedness, poverty, high birth rate, high prevalence of HIV as well as multiple concurrent partnerships.• Such a situation is detrimental to the normal development of a child.

Key interventions Training of Peer Child Counsellors and Peer Educators on basic counselling skills, HIV related child issues, formation of Child Support groups, child abuse, knowledge of functions of various departments and ministries and reporting procedures.Holding community awareness campaigns with Victim Friendly Unit, Department of Social Services, Childline, NAC, Mobile clinic, on their functions as well as encouraging HIV testing and adherence to treatment Distributing IEC material to participants and communities on HIV and child abuse issuesFostering a culture of tolerance to reduce Stigma and Discrimination at all costs.

Approaches, Methodologies and

strategies usedParticipatory approaches - Children and adults were all given the platform to participate during workshops and at community gatherings during the awareness campaigns.

Multi-sectoral approaches – Stakeholders found an easy platform to link with communities and make them aware of the functions of respective departments for continued cooperation.

Approaches, Methodologies and

strategies used(cont..)Rights based approaches - Children's rights were highly emphasised such as rights to protection, survival, treatment, care and support as well as participation in all maters that concern them.

Evidence based approaches - evidence gathered during the Community Based Planning Processes(CBP) conducted by ZCDA in 2011 in the specific operational areas where children came up with their own plans with regards to their welfare were utilised.

Resources used  RATN financial contribution through the ALUMNI GRANT Facilitators from Government ministries, NGOs, ZCDA and technical support from CONNECT-ZISTIEC material produced and sourced from other organisations

Challenges and counter-strategies employed 

Trainings were conducted during weekends to accommodate children.Project ignited a lot of protection issues within the short timeframe but established reporting structures and referral links through the multi-sectoral approach employed.Evidence of success and

achievements; Strengthened Child protection committees Established synergies between communities and other stakeholders.Raised community consciousness.

Lessons learnt Child participation is instrumental towards steering communities to be proactive in matters that concern them.

There are still knowledge gaps on issues of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission as well as Anti-Retroviral Therapy for children / Paediatric HIV.

Multi-sectoral approaches pulls knowledge together with minimum resources for greater impact.

Conclusions and why it is a best practice

Involving children in matters that affect them help in understanding issues better and can positively influence other children in ways they understand.

It is important to create synergies between community and district stakeholders.

The project should be replicated in other wards for greater impact as the little timeframe has yielded far reaching results.

SustainabilityThe foundation for change has been laid by the project and information flow is to continue as the links had been established between the relevant departments and communities.

Stakeholders who include the children vowed to keep the ball rolling though they cited issues of resources as a possible constraint.

Details of what others will gain from the model. •Partners and organisations should acknowledge each other’s competencies and collaborate for lasting impact than individual effort.• Evidence based approach makes people quickly identify with project thus enhancing ownership.• Community ownership of a project helps in meeting of set goals as there is bound to be high stakeholder involvement.