Development Aid from People to People HOPE Kaoma Year Report 2014 January to December To U-landshjelp fra Folk til Folk, Norge
Name of Project: HOPE Kaoma Implementing Organization: Development Aid from People to People in Zambia Report period: January to December, 2014 INTRODUCTION HOPE Kaoma in 2014 focused on improving the welfare of families and children through economic empowerment, HIV prevention, promotion and capacity building. The project was committed to promoting improved health and hygiene practices, assisting support groups, orphans and other vulnerable populations and carrying out environmental protection activities. It also encouraged youths to become activists and take part in the developmental activities in the community. From January to August the project worked with the STEP/OVCs programme and reached 4,965 OVC s and 2,313 people living with HIV through 387 Care Givers, who went door to door. The OVC activities were during the months of July to August handed over to the communities and new project activities started with focus on elimination of child labour in Kaoma. The reason for this focus is that the district has many children working in the tobacco farming area. By the end of 2014 the HOPE project will be finalized and the child labour activities will in 2015 be continued as a Child Aid project. PROJECT ACTIVITIES Objective 1 - Improved health and welfare for PLHIV and their families: 1.1 Improving income and food security for the families Improved gardening for families keeping OVC: The project carried out extensive support to families in the programme by distributing vegetable seeds and building their capacity through trainings in vegetable production. The project provided 350 families keeping OVC with vegetable seeds and 500 families with seeds of the multi-purpose moringa. A total of 850 families were supported. Their gardens have been doing well thereby enabling the families to have enough vegetables for consumption and surplus for sale. Saving groups and micro finance: The project supported saving groups, in which families are encouraged and taught how to save money and lend to each other for their own development purposes. The model used has been developed by Catholic Relief Service (CRS) and is called SILC which stands for Savings and Internal Lending Community. The project worked with 15 groups with 300 members. In addition, the project linked 189 families to microfinance institutions for them to access small cash loans. The programmes have helped 111 families to venture in different types of businesses, hence their family s economy and livelihood has improved. The project worked with Sub-grantees. One of them was TALC- Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign. The organization staff were trained in Financial Management, Farming as a business, Entrepreneurship and helped in reaching out to masses in the communities where they were sub- 2
granted to carry out similar activities of improving incomes and food securities in homes. TALC trained 56 households representatives in small business management, 80 in Agriculture and overall reached out to 136 with information on SILC and finding means and ways to secure families have enough food for themselves. Establishment of Demo Gardens: The project worked with 20 communities with the Village Action Groups and established demo gardens in the end of 2014 as part of the new project focusing on elimination of child labour. The communities have 6 model demo garden. These gardens will be used for practice in which vulnerable youths learn skills. The youth have ventured into gardening as a business, especially with knowledge that will be gained Provision of input to vulnerable families sending children to work: The project supported 74 households which are headed by OVCs with legume seeds and lessons on improved farming methods in order for them to engage in income generating activities. Provision of gift in kind and psychosocial support: The project during the commemoration of the International day for the families gave out hampers of mixed clothes to 300 families with OVC and the elderly and most vulnerable in society. The project also gave gifts in kind such as T/shirts, shirts and Shoes to 66 OVC and 354 People Living with HIV. In additional the care givers provided services in basic care and support through psychosocial counselling, referrals and home support visitations. The caregivers directly reached out with care and support through home visitations to 4, 965 OVC and 2,313 People Living with HIV. Health Action Compliance: The projects have run health and hygiene messages and practices through the 100 Village Action Groups. The project together with the community carried out actions on health programmes through Village Action Group meetings reaching and mobilising 827 households to be WASH compliant. The VAGs have been monitoring and sensitizing the communities on maintaining high level of hygiene. The project also reached 374 OVCs with health and hygiene messages through caregivers who conduct door-to-door visits on a monthly basis. The projects mobilized and encourage families on the type of shelter that will improve hygiene like toilet, plate drier and general cleanliness. Objective 2 - Reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS Counselling and Testing: HOPE Kaoma through Adolescent Reproductive Health Advocacy conducted a door to door HIV counselling and testing in the operation area surrounding the health facility located near Kaoma Township. A total of 969 people were counselled and tested during the period from January to June 2014. From the total number of 969 reached with counselling service and testing, 34 of these tested positive. The 34 people living with HIV were referred and linked to ART services. 3
School Programme: The project reached out to 60 schools to sensitize the pupils about the danger of engaging in premarital sex and risks of contracting HIV. The young adolescent were urged to delay their sexual debut activities until they had completed their education, while the older ones were mobilized and sensitized to abstain, be faithful and use of condoms correctly and consistently Condom distribution: The project worked closely with Ministry of Health and other stakeholders like DATF (District Aids Task Force) in the supply of Condoms. The project worked through the trained 100 support groups and 60 youth clubs in condom distribution and promotion. The activists went out to distribute and sensitize people on how to use the condom correctly, and how to store also dispose them off. The project distributed a total of 287,610 in the reporting period. Male Circumcision: The project through Adolescent Reproductive Health Advocacy and Hope Mongu HIV mobile services did manage to mobilize 969 people in the community to come for counselling and testing. Of these, 104 got circumcised. The main massage carried for circumcision was to protect women and mothers from the Human Papilloma Virus that causes cervical Cancer. Youths and School Programmes: HOPE Kaoma worked with 20 Youth clubs which have a total membership of 425. The project increased youth awareness information provision on sexually transmitted infections. The project organised sporting activities in disciplines such as chess, football, netball as a means of bringing the youths together for interaction and to disseminate information on the importance of avoiding early sex and safe sex to them. The project linked up with Kaoma Recreation centre that are doing sporting activities as a way to keep the youths busy and identify their talents. The project also strengthened the youths economically by training them and linking them to business entrepreneurs who are already established to advance their careers. The project trained 20 youths in a comprehensive entrepreneurship skill. The trained youth have since been absorbed in the local industry such as Timber processing and working in the local hospitality industry. The youths were also mobilised to participate in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS information by conducting prevention activities such condom demonstrations and other health lessons reaching out to 2,730 other youths in the community. The youths participated in the Day of an Africa child and World Day against Child Labour, VCT day and the recently commemorated World Aids Day. Objective 3 Mobilizing volunteers to take active part in the fight against HIV/AIDS Training of Care givers: The project trained 385 care givers to spearhead the mobilizing and taking a leading role in the community mobilization against HIV/AIDS. A total of 385 care givers were trained in an effort to ensure that the community is served effectively, efficiently and timely. The caregivers had a big role of mobilizing the community during commemorations, review meetings, dialogue meeting and handover of project meetings in the communities. The caregivers were trained in behavioral change and conducted 45 household dialogue meetings on behavioral change reaching out to 4,483 families directly with the messages. 4
Training of support groups: The project trained 28 support groups in the operation area in support of people living with HIV. The total number of people trained in the support group to be leaders in information dissemination, awareness and mobilization is 567 members. These managed to reach out to the 142 communities with HIV messages. Training of peer educators: The project trained peer educators from the 60 schools. The Anti- AIDS clubs in the schools are usually formed with a membership of 20 per school, so the peer educators have a direct membership of 1200 in the programme. In the reporting period, the peer educators disseminated information to the fellow peers through Drama and Poetry. The Project disseminated information against the spread of HIV and early marriages. Peers were also enlightened on re-entry policy and its implementation in schools. Kaoma had recorded a number of girls who had fallen pregnant while in school, hence the need to explain this policy. Community Child Labour committees: The project trained 60 members from the 6 new areas in skills to support children and households that have children working in the tobacco farms. The project aimed at ensuring that no children worked in or near the tobacco fields to earn income and that the families were trained and provided with skills to support their children and themselves. EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT The project carried out focus group discussions by the end of 2014. The result of the discussions was as follows: Improved income, nutrition and health for people living with HIV and their families: 60 out of the 100 people interviewed are now able to serve 3 meals a day throughout the year. There was a 60% increase in 2014 as compared 40% in 2013 of the people interviewed who expressed that they could serve 3 meals a day. This shows improved food security of the participating families The HOPE project provided the Support Groups in Kaoma with chickens and goats for pass on loans starting in 2006 and the pass on is still going on. In some groups all members have already benefited as the offspring were passed on year after year. This shows commitment from the members of the groups as the pass on continued even after this activity was completely handed over to the group. The livestock was properly cared, resulting from the project training of the members in livestock management. The project had also trained one community livestock worker in each group and many of them are still active. Consequently income and products from these livestock has been supporting livelihood and nutrition for the beneficiaries. Increased care and support to people living with HIV: As a result of the various trainings provided to the caregivers, they have acquired competences in giving proper care give support to people living with HIV. The project has seen regular meeting conducted to discuss issues to do with HIV and many people have taken a step to go for VCT. This has shown an increase of support groups being registered so that they can get some help from other partners. 5
Traditional leaders bad sexual practices: With the Hope Project running from 2006 up to 2014, the communities have been sensitized against bad traditional practices which were commonly practiced in the area, especially those involving bad sexual behaviour like forced sexual cleansing of widows and the practice of polygamous marriages. Traditional leaders have been mobilized and are now taking a key role in educating their subjects on the effects engaging in such practices. Increased uptake of counselling, testing and PMTCT services: As a result of mobilizing the community, many people have decided to know their status to plan for the future. The communities mobilize themselves and encourage each other on the importance of knowing ones status and lobbying for clinical facilities to be near them. A total of 969 were tested in the year 2014. Activists: As a result of the main trainings programmes the project had running up to 2014. The project has directly trained 3,114 People Living with HIV, 385 Care givers, 125 ART treatment supporters, 45 TB treatment supporters, training of 269 peer educators in the dissemination of HIV prevention massage with Health and hygiene. As the number of activist grows, the service delivery to the community has also improved. They are able to cover the larger parts of the community with knowledge and skills. 6
ANNEX 1 OUTPUT TABLE ACTIVITIES Goal for the year Achieved Balance to date Achieved in % of total goal # of staff 4 4 100% #of activists and volunteers 750 824 74 110% # of people directly reached with activities including family members 50000 57000 7000 114% # of OVCs in the programme 4900 4965 0 101% Objective One-Improved health and welfare for PLHIV and their families # PLHIV trained in positive Living, nutrition and food 2380 2396 16 101% security # of PLHIV trained in nutrition and food security 1800 2396 596 133% # of HH on pass on scheme/ gardening 300 310 10 103% # of savings groups 15 15 0 100% # of HH benefiting from micro-finance 40 42 2 105% Objective Two - Reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS # of people tested for HIV and counselled 1200 1230 30 103% # of schools reached 60 60 0 100% # of out of school youth clubs 60 60 0 100% # of people reached with opinion forming actions 10000 12000 2000 120% # of males referred for MC 0 120 120 100% # of Condoms Distributed 250000 287,610 37610 115% Objective three - mobilising activists to fight HIV # of CATFs trained and connected 15 20 5 133% # of Support Groups affiliated with Hope 100 65-35 65% # of care giver activists 500 500 0 100% # of other activists 250 245-5 98% # of Sub-grantees 2 2 0 100% # of Service providers 43 43 0 100% 7
ANNEX 2 DOCUMENTATION Support Groups with number of participants. No. Name of Support Groups Membership Total Kaoma Female Male 1 Swalisano 16 4 20 2 Naiponela 14 6 20 3 Buswa 13 7 20 4 Mukalufumana 13 7 20 5 Kopanokimata 15 5 20 6 Tuyelutwe 8 11 19 7 Lyoyomboko 2 10 12 8 lilato 11 5 16 9 Tukongote 11 8 19 10 mulufumani 11 9 20 11 Mulamba west 8 6 14 12 Tundamo 11 4 15 13 Township 9 5 14 14 Liyoyelo 15 3 18 15 Kwahamukwenu 21 0 21 16 Wise 18 2 20 17 Mapilelo 14 7 21 18 Lumenyo 16 3 19 19 Sepo 14 6 20 20 Mutuwana 20 7 27 23 Mihozhi 14 6 20 24 Kahumbu 8 7 15 25 Lipilelo 6 8 15 26 Kasheka 12 6 18 27 Nguvu 6 4 10 28 Mwandansengo 12 8 20 29 Kasukiya 8 2 10 30 Lilamono 6 1 7 31 Kwasha 5 1 6 32 Kwayambunga 3 2 5 33 Vision 12 9 21 34 Togetherness 15 9 24 8
9
SUCCESS STORY How I benefited from DAPP My name is Carol Musangu. I am a young woman with four children, 1 boy and 3 girls. In 2008, I joined Sepo Support Group in Longe area, which is located six kilometres from Kaoma Township. During the time DAPP came to operate in our area and conducted group counselling at Longe clinic, they had formed the support group with 29 members. They introduced the programme outline, contents and time frame dealing with lessons to do with positive living. With the teachings, I became aware of the need for me to know my HIV status and decided to take an action of going for counselling and testing in the future. Eventually, in 2012, I gathered courage to go for the test and the result was positive. It was a difficult situation to comprehend, but with the trainings and lessons we had from the group in positive living, that gave me strength to live on and removed the fear of stigmatisation that I had. The support group strengthened me in many way to help me understand and accept my own situation. I am now open about my HIV status. The support group has also helped me in many other ways. We were trained as a group in gardening and livestock management and later received a pass on loan of goats and legumes with vegetable seeds. This has helped me take care of my children. The proceeds of the starter pack have made me self-sustained. I am able to take care of my children, send them to school and living a normal life. I have since paid back the pass on loan to my group (two kid goats) for other members to benefit. Furthermore, I have been empowered with trainings in TB and ART adherence as community adherence supporter. I have acquired a lot of knowledge which has enabled me to survive up to now because when I tested positive, I had lost all hope. I now run my small business of making fritters and I sell them by the road side, making up to K30 (USD4.8) every day which gives me roughly K 900(USD145) as a turn over per month. I thank DAPP for all the support and trainings in my life and linking me to a local community rural health centre. Because of this, I am now closely working with the VCT room at the local clinic as a TB and ART Treatment Supporter and I am on duty rota on Mondays and Thursdays. I have the responsibility to follow up clients who are on ART and TB treatment. Once more I thank DAPP for making me stand and walk straight. 10
ANNEX : PICTURE PAGES Vegetable gardening Tree planting Multipurpuse tree Gmelina left and Moringa for nutrition right 11
Community Caregiver Review meeting Distribution of clothes to orphans 12
Out of school youth reaching out Trained school peer educators 13