Zambia

Support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by HIV/AIDS
Project Concern International
April 2005 - February 2008

In partnership with Project Concern International (PCI) and local NGOs, Pact is providing technical assistance for a WORTH program in Zambia to respond to the growing HIV/AIDS crisis and the ever-increasing number of orphans and vulnerable children.

With funding from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Pact and PCI will reach approximately 4,400 caregivers in rural or peri-urban areas in the country. These caregivers are single mothers or have taken children orphaned by AIDS into their homes. HIV/AIDS has placed considerable strain on the ability of communities to care for children orphaned and affected by the disease. Since women are more likely to take responsibility for orphans, the economic burden on female caregivers is the most extreme. For example, in Zambia the average income of female-headed households is only approximately half that of male-headed households with orphans. For this reason part of an effective and strategic effort to reduce the vulnerability of children affected by extreme poverty or HIV/AIDS includes strengthening the ability of families to provide for their essential needs and to cope with the death or illness of a primary caretaker.

Emerging results

There are 200 formal WORTH groups with a total of 5,150 active women in the program. Over 860 new micro-enterprises have been formed by WORTH women since joining WORTH and collective savings are over 77 million Kenyan Shillings.

Groups have created dynamic networks to tackle challenges in their communities, such construction of pre-schools, markets and shelters for their meeting places. Women are also participating in community initiatives for school expansions, rural health centers and collection of sand and stone for bridge construction.