Our Mission Statement.
Orphans' Development Programme International is a non-profit Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) established to promote care and support for children living in difficult circumstances , their foster families and communities in Africa.
Factors ranked top on the list rendering children vulnerable to suffering in Africa to-day are HIV/AIDS and Armed conflicts, different armies in their own right but with similar repercussions. They weaken the communities' defence mechanisms and rob families off their capability to care for their children.
Operational Areas.
ODPI operates within the Great Lakes Region (D R Congo, Rwanda, Burundi) with Regional Offices in Bukavu (D R Congo), and within the East Africa Region countries of Kenya, (Kenya Orphans Rural Development Programme-KORDP), Uganda (Uganda Orphans Rural Development Programme- (UORDP), and Tanzania, Orphans Rural Development programme-(TORDP). The country programmes are affiliates of Orphans Development Programme International whose Africa Regional Office is in Nairobi.
Background to ODPI's Work.
Subtly, stocking the trail of armed conflict is HIV/AIDS.
UNICEF's Report of December 2000states: “included in the 34.3 million PLWA in the world, 1.3 million are children under the age of 15 years. Africa is home to >70% of the world's HIV/AIDS cases; > 80% of AIDS deaths; and >90% of AIDS orphans. The report shows that children are suffering most in countries where the ravaging impact of HIV/AIDS is felt in addition to armed conflict. Hence the focus of Orphans Development Programme's International on the Great Lakes and Eastern Africa Regions. Armed conflict and HIV/AIDS have left children orphaned, at best left in the care of very elderly grand-parents who are ill-equipped, materially, physically and emotionally to cope. At worst, children as young as 10 years old are heads of households, some living on their own!
ODPI's Intervention Strategy.
Orphans' Development Programme International works in partnership with Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to reach vulnerable children and their caregivers.
Our Objectives.
To alleviate the suffering of children living in difficult circumstances as a result of HIV/AIDS and Armed Conflict through enabling them to gain access to food, preventive, and curative medical care, education, shelter, psycho-social counselling and preparation for self-reliance.
To support efforts of slowing down the spread of HIV/AIDS in partner communities through Education for Youth , the Elderly and Caregivers to PLWH/A's
To strengthen family support systems for orphaned children through alleviating abject poverty levels being experienced.
To address the Rehabilitation needs of youth casualties of armed conflict, the child soldiers.
To initiate Justice and Peace Initiatives amongst families of affected partner communities and;
To advocate towards policy on issues relating to HIV/AIDS and Armed conflict.
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