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Activity update
Loving Hand
September 28, 2007

Background

The Loving Hand is a registered Community Based Organization implementing Home Based Care and Orphan Care programmes. In its Orphans and Vulnerable Children programmes, Loving is assisting orphans with school uniforms, school fees, food rations, Psychosocial support and counseling support. These programmes have been going on for the past nine years.

From the time the organization started implementing these activities, there has been a built up in the number of children in need of assistance. Our database has a figure of 1 850 children. The number of children in need of assistance is growing up by the day as the country continues to face debilitating economic challenges. Every day the organization is receiving a minimum of six reports of children in need of assistance. A number of these requests have been turned down mainly because the children will not be from our district of operation or they do not meet our regulations. However it is our intention that we assist all these children as they are in actual need.

Our beneficiaries

Children who are beneficiaries to our programmes are basically Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Vulnerable children are those who live in child headed families, those who are disabled, those who have been raped or abused, those who have terminal illnesses and those who are very poor. . Orphans can either be single orphan, meaning that one parent has died or double orphans, meaning that both parents are deceased.

Resources permitting we also assist adults who have terminal illnesses, those who have lost a spouse and those who are very poor. Our experience has indicated that more than 95 % of people living in peri-urban areas are in dire need of assistance. These are such areas as Robert Sinyoka, Methodist Villages and St Peter where Loving Hand started its activities.

Recent activities

On 28 August to 30 August 2007, Loving Hand took 51 children for a three-day psychosocial camp at Gifford High School. The camp revealed the extent to which children are suffering in our communities. 31 children who attended the camp had no blankets. Some only had one pair of clothing. No one had basic hygiene facilities such as toothpaste, soap, slippers, lotion/Vaseline, towels and nightgowns.

The camp also revealed that some children couldn't even afford to have their hair cut. Majority of girls had no sanitary wear and underwear. Most of these challenges could not be met but the organization was overwhelmed with the needs.

On 25 June to 29 June, Loving Hand trained 30 Care Facilitators. Again the training revealed a lot about the challenges facing the communities. Our Care Facilitators are being overwhelmed by the demand from clients. The Care Facilitators also need support to avoid burn out.

Achievements

Loving Hand has a cordial relationship with members of the communities who are willing to assist those in need. The organization has been receiving support from the Rotary Club since 2006. We have managed to account for everything that they have been giving us. This has helped us to have a strong bond. We also received support from UNICEF and managed to acquit well all that they gave us. We have a tried a tested monitoring and reporting system that can satisfy donors.

We also have an excellent relationship with community leaders, Ward AIDS Action Committees (WAACs) and District AIDS Action Committees who assist us in vetting beneficiaries. This ensures that only those who deserve get the assistance.

Future plans

Our future plans are to expand our programmes to all the areas that we have identified to be in great need. We also plan to go on a strong campaign to engage the business communities to plough back into the communities. We also want to sensitise school children, particularly those in Boarding schools to give to the poor. We need to plant that spirit of sharing in the hearts of the children so that they grow up with that spirit.

Visit the Loving Hand fact sheet

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