Grandmothers and OVC Support Program – Supported by The Stephen Lewis Foundation

Project Title: Community based Support for grandmothers, orphan and vulnerable     Children

General Objective: To improve the well-being of grandmothers, and orphan and vulnerable children

Duration: One Year

Project Location: Debre Sina City, Tarmaber District, North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia
Project Target Group:

• Grandmothers
• Orphan and Vulnerable Children

Number of beneficiaries
Direct 60 grandmothers
50 Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
Indirect 700 family members’ grandmothers and OVC

The project started October 2012 and will end on October 2013

Major activities performed are:-

• Sixty poor grandmothers who are taking care of OVCs and who are not supported by government or other NGOs were selected in collaboration with local government representatives.
• DFT provided monthly wheat and edible oil for each beneficiary grandmother as a food support. The provision of such food services reduced the severe daily meal need problem of grandmothers and their grandchildren. Food provision has made school OVC to attend their class regularly.
• DFT also provided soaps for cloth and body cleaning for each grandmother as sanitary materials. The provision of such sanitary material is important for them and their grandchildren to keep their health. Sanitary material protected grandmothers and their grandchildren from diseases resulted in contamination.
• Children with critical psychosocial and economic problems were selected from the town with concerned government representatives as well as HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control office.
• Educational materials such as pen, exercise book, bag and uniforms were purchased and distributed for 50 (31 female and 19 male) orphans. The project is now supporting these children to continue their education.
• Two Male and three female children with critical health problem received treatments from local health institution.
• Small-scale business management training was provided for beneficiary 50 grandmothers for two days.
• Mobilized the community and  maintain poor quality houses of 10 grandmothers.