1. INTERVENTION STRATEGIES USED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO CHILDREN LIVING IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND AT RISK OF CONTRACTING HIV/AIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES Presented by Joyce Oletile Masters Degree in Social Work & Human Rights 3rd September 2015 Victoria Falls-Zimbabwe

2. Who are children living in difficult circumstances & at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS? Orphaned children Children living with HIV Children living with disability School drop outs Children living on the street Children heading households Neglected children

3. Life Skills Camps Weekend Camps for children aged 6 to 9 yrs. Tree of life tool was used Topics discussed covered childrens rights & responsibilities, child abuse, basic facts on HIV/AIDS, Games (playing cards, netball and football. Borne fire in the evening Nature tour Follow up meetings after the camp Two weeks Camps for children aged 10 to 14 & 15 to18 yrs. Journey of life and Tree of life tools were used. Topics discussed covered childrens rights & responsibilities, child development, adolescent & sexual reproductive health, basic facts on HIV/AIDS, defilement, incest & rape, child abuse Games (netball, football, volleyball, chess, playing cards, monopoly, scrabble. Nature tour Borne fire in the evening

4. Home Visits For both children and their caregivers Clients feel comfortable and open in their own environment. Identification and registration of new clients Linking clientele with appropriate services Addressing issues of child welfare and interpersonal relationships

5. Childrens Meetings Focused on health talks & life skills Identifying children who needs help in different issues e.g school work, social problems Interaction and sharing of ideas with others Covered topics on importance of education, drugs and substance abuse, child abuse, information on HIV/AIDS, children`s rights & responsibilities, defilement, incest & rape Opportunity to document magnitute of cases of children in difficult circumstances

6. Group Counselling Children grouped according to problems they face Issues discussed, adherence, importance of schooling Helps children to open up and share knowing that they are not alone

7. Parents Meetings Aimed at sensitising parents/caregivers on children`s issues Creating a platform for experience sharing on different issues relating to child and parental welfare Building closer links between caregivers and service providers Discussions covered parental duties and obligations, children´s rights & responsibilities, interpersonal relationships at family level, importance of schooling, child & social welfare programs for both parents and children

8. Parenting Workshop Give feedback on life skills camps Equip parents with parenting skills Platform for experience sharing and mapping wayforward on children´s issues Build closer links with caregivers Update parents/caregivers on current programs for children & caregivers Appraise parents/caregivers on available services, when and where to seek help

9. Community Leaders Workshop Project buy in and support Sensitisation on legal statutes, acts & policies Appraise them on available services for children, caregivers and the community Referral networks (when & where to refer cases Building relationships and collaboration in handling childrens issues

10. Lessons Learnt Involvement of community in issues relating to children helped in referral of cases. Home visits helped in identifying magnitude of problems at community level. Usage of local statute- children`s act raised awareness on the community and participation in dealing with children´s issues. Proximity in project implementation is very important (time, location) Group counselling on people with same problem is more effective as clients feel more comfortable to share. Collaboration of stakeholders is essential in implementation of strategies geared towards helping children

11. Recommendation Interventions should be contextualised looking at issues of culture and locality Meetings for parents to be held after their working hours Children`s meetings to be held after school to avoid clashing with school timetable.

12. Thank You Ke a leboga