Who are you trying to help? What issue are you trying to address?

It is estimated that the number of AIDS orphans in Kenya is 2.4 million. The OVC/HCBC Project intends to support 1500 of these children.

OVC constitute the most vulnerable members of the society because they lack basic needs such as food, health care,shelter and education. In addition they are stigmatized, thus exposing them to further abuse and exploitation. At the community and family level there is increased stress on the extended families as they try to care for these children while an increasing number of elderly people and young children are forced to become household heads. It is worse in the poor rural settlement and urban slums where children have no relatives to take care of them when the parents are ill or die. HIV/AIDS has negatively affected the population especially agricultural production of most communities, with dwindling food resources that lead to OVC getting inadequate nutrition and are often malnourished leading to frequent illness and stunted growth.

What is your project and how will it help?

KOHOP is implementing an HIV/AIDS project in Kothidha location, Asego division of Homabay County. Its main activities include community capacity building through nutrition education and agricultural promotion, vocational training for orphans and vulnerable children, shelter and care through shelter renovations and provision of clothing bedding and safe water. KOHOP has also started home and community based care programmes.

This project hopes to mobilize the community and empower them to take responsibility for the well-being of OVC affected by HIV/AIDS. Thus the strategies used will strengthen existing resources, coping mechanisms and support capabilities within the family and community structures and will facilitate networking and partnering with community stakeholders and outside resources.

How can other people partner with you on your project?

To conduct our project, funding is the form of partnership needed. It will be useful to the following areas:

• Education and vocational training
• Healthcare and sanitation
• Shelter and care
• Life-skills and HIV prevention
• Psychosocial support
• Food security and nutrition
• Child protection
• Economic strengthening

Please detail the resources that you need.

The cost of our project reaches $4,531,500. A table of the cost distribution is attached below.