Care & Support for OVCs
By understanding the realities on the ground and the needs of the local communities, our volunteer members have created programs designed to benefit both orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) and the caretakers of these children.
This integrated approach serves to address the immediate needs of the children while also providing long-term, sustainable benefits to the caretakers responsible for the development of these children.
Most OVCs supported are unaccompanied children of commercial sex workers, HIV/AIDS orphaned children, children with disabilities and children under the care of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Because these children are often living under circumstances that prevent them from gaining access to essential needs, YEI provides OVCs with access to education, health and recreational services.
Through its child-sponsorship scheme, YEI volunteers, partners and directors generally provide school fees, academic materials and scholastic support. We currently sponsor young children in primary school and youth in vocational institutions.
To receive more information on how you can sponsor and support an OVC, please email sponsorship@yei-uganda.org.
YEI also supports caretakers of OVCs by providing them with revolving funds that help to start income generating projects. With these funds, caretakers have started their own vegetable stalls, second-hand clothes businesses and food venues. We also organize the elderly caretakers - usually grandmothers - into groups and help them to start vegetable gardens.
YEI is also currently providing them with citrus trees. In addition to the income generating and gardening programs, we also engage caretakers in discussion of how to protect the rights of OVCs.
The OVCs are also involved in recreational activities to help develop the mind.
My husband died 13 years ago and left me with five children. We did not know which disease killed him but some people said it was AIDS. I did not believe it because my husband did not have a second wife and back then HIV was only associated with prostitutes.
But after three years I also became weak and I tested positive for HIV. People who learned of my condition avoided and feared me. I wanted to resort to suicide. Shortly after being hospitalized, I went to YEI to receive couseling and was advised to have my children tested for HIV. One of my children was found positive and the two of us started on ARVs. I am now volunteering with YEI and I feel healthy.
With support from YEI, I feel free to share my story, and yes, my story has encouraged many more people to get tested.
Vulnerable children from Kayanzi fishing village show their playful side while taking a break during a support session.
