Focus On Grandmothers: Silent Managers of Home-Based Care for Orphaned Children

[Guest guest]

Focus On Grandmothers: Silent Managers of Home-Based Care for

Orphaned Children and Children Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya

Grandparents in Africa today, especially elderly women, are finding

themselves parents again — to their grandchildren. As HIV/AIDS takes

its toll, increasing numbers of grandmothers already taking care of

their sick or dying children must also provide care and shelter to

their grandchildren. Many also take in orphaned children with

nowhere to go and no one to care for them.

" I could not even afford to buy paracetamol as a painkiller or anti-

itch cream for his rash. He decided to throw himself in a well

because the pain was too much. I had nowhere to turn to. I could

only pray to God. I am now left to look after his five children.

These children are always hungry, so we always have to tie our belts

tight. We as old mothers and old fathers are crying to Kenya to help

us. We have educated you our children, now we want you to help these

children. " —Grandmother from Ahero, Kenya

Grandmothers in Kenya recently had an opportunity to dialogue with

, Special Representative to the Secretary General on

AIDS in Africa, during his mission to Kenya. The dialogue was

organized by UNIFEM and HelpAge Kenya to raise visibility for the

situation of elderly women as care-givers, a considerably

marginalized group in society living with high levels of poverty.

Twenty grandmothers who provide home-based care for their

HIV/AIDS-affected grandchildren and orphans spoke up about the major

difficulties they face on a daily basis and how they would like the

government and civil society groups to help. Their limited

involvement in HIV/AIDS interventions stands in sharp contrast to

the fact that their lives are severely affected by the pandemic.

They provide economic, social and psycho-social support, but are

largely excluded in the planning, resource allocation and programme

implementation of governments and developmental health and

humanitarian agencies. For more information, contact Roselyn Gicira,

roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

Protecting IDPs in Somalia

Internally displaced (IDP) women in Somalia are particularly

vulnerable to gender-based violations within IDP communities.

Somalia is a clan-based society that has strict socio-cultural

structures for its members. Displacement and relocation disrupt

these structures, leading to gender-based violations of women during

times of transit and at their settlement areas. Protection for IDPs

has emerged as a key component for humanitarian actors in Somalia,

including UNIFEM, and a UN Joint IDP strategy is providing a

framework of action and calling for collaboration among all

stakeholders, including IDPs themselves. There is a clear need to

identify, recognize and addr ess the special vulnerability of IDPs

and raise awareness of their special needs among local authorities

and other relevant stakeholders.

Participants of a recently concluded series of training

workshops for humanitarian actors in Somalia reiterated the

importance of exploiting all protection mechanisms available within

the Somali community to protect IDPs, with host communities and

traditional elders having the responsibility of overseeing

implementation. They stressed the importance of sensitizing

displaced communities about their rights and empowering them to

claim them. They also agreed on the development of programmes aimed

at preventing displacement with an emphasis of tackling the root

causes of displacement in Somalia. Civil society and women's

organizations were seen as key players in the provision of

psychosocial support and counselling often needed by survivors of

various forms of abuse. UNIFEM and its partners are working in the

country to train peer psychosocial counsellors on dealing with

gender based violence and its link to HIV/AIDS infection within

their co mmunities. For more information, please contact Roselyn

Gicira, roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

[Guest guest]

Focus On Grandmothers: Silent Managers of Home-Based Care for

Orphaned Children and Children Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya

Grandparents in Africa today, especially elderly women, are finding

themselves parents again — to their grandchildren. As HIV/AIDS takes

its toll, increasing numbers of grandmothers already taking care of

their sick or dying children must also provide care and shelter to

their grandchildren. Many also take in orphaned children with

nowhere to go and no one to care for them.

" I could not even afford to buy paracetamol as a painkiller or anti-

itch cream for his rash. He decided to throw himself in a well

because the pain was too much. I had nowhere to turn to. I could

only pray to God. I am now left to look after his five children.

These children are always hungry, so we always have to tie our belts

tight. We as old mothers and old fathers are crying to Kenya to help

us. We have educated you our children, now we want you to help these

children. " —Grandmother from Ahero, Kenya

Grandmothers in Kenya recently had an opportunity to dialogue with

, Special Representative to the Secretary General on

AIDS in Africa, during his mission to Kenya. The dialogue was

organized by UNIFEM and HelpAge Kenya to raise visibility for the

situation of elderly women as care-givers, a considerably

marginalized group in society living with high levels of poverty.

Twenty grandmothers who provide home-based care for their

HIV/AIDS-affected grandchildren and orphans spoke up about the major

difficulties they face on a daily basis and how they would like the

government and civil society groups to help. Their limited

involvement in HIV/AIDS interventions stands in sharp contrast to

the fact that their lives are severely affected by the pandemic.

They provide economic, social and psycho-social support, but are

largely excluded in the planning, resource allocation and programme

implementation of governments and developmental health and

humanitarian agencies. For more information, contact Roselyn Gicira,

roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

Protecting IDPs in Somalia

Internally displaced (IDP) women in Somalia are particularly

vulnerable to gender-based violations within IDP communities.

Somalia is a clan-based society that has strict socio-cultural

structures for its members. Displacement and relocation disrupt

these structures, leading to gender-based violations of women during

times of transit and at their settlement areas. Protection for IDPs

has emerged as a key component for humanitarian actors in Somalia,

including UNIFEM, and a UN Joint IDP strategy is providing a

framework of action and calling for collaboration among all

stakeholders, including IDPs themselves. There is a clear need to

identify, recognize and addr ess the special vulnerability of IDPs

and raise awareness of their special needs among local authorities

and other relevant stakeholders.

Participants of a recently concluded series of training

workshops for humanitarian actors in Somalia reiterated the

importance of exploiting all protection mechanisms available within

the Somali community to protect IDPs, with host communities and

traditional elders having the responsibility of overseeing

implementation. They stressed the importance of sensitizing

displaced communities about their rights and empowering them to

claim them. They also agreed on the development of programmes aimed

at preventing displacement with an emphasis of tackling the root

causes of displacement in Somalia. Civil society and women's

organizations were seen as key players in the provision of

psychosocial support and counselling often needed by survivors of

various forms of abuse. UNIFEM and its partners are working in the

country to train peer psychosocial counsellors on dealing with

gender based violence and its link to HIV/AIDS infection within

their co mmunities. For more information, please contact Roselyn

Gicira, roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

[Guest guest]

SAD INDEED.

On 6/9/06, Chifu <chifu2222@...> wrote:

Focus On Grandmothers: Silent Managers of Home-Based Care forOrphaned Children and Children Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya

Grandparents in Africa today, especially elderly women, are findingthemselves parents again — to their grandchildren. As HIV/AIDS takesits toll, increasing numbers of grandmothers already taking care oftheir sick or dying children must also provide care and shelter to

their grandchildren. Many also take in orphaned children withnowhere to go and no one to care for them. " I could not even afford to buy paracetamol as a painkiller or anti-itch cream for his rash. He decided to throw himself in a well

because the pain was too much. I had nowhere to turn to. I couldonly pray to God. I am now left to look after his five children.These children are always hungry, so we always have to tie our beltstight. We as old mothers and old fathers are crying to Kenya to help

us. We have educated you our children, now we want you to help thesechildren. " —Grandmother from Ahero, KenyaGrandmothers in Kenya recently had an opportunity to dialogue with , Special Representative to the Secretary General on

AIDS in Africa, during his mission to Kenya. The dialogue wasorganized by UNIFEM and HelpAge Kenya to raise visibility for thesituation of elderly women as care-givers, a considerablymarginalized group in society living with high levels of poverty.

Twenty grandmothers who provide home-based care for theirHIV/AIDS-affected grandchildren and orphans spoke up about the majordifficulties they face on a daily basis and how they would like thegovernment and civil society groups to help. Their limited

involvement in HIV/AIDS interventions stands in sharp contrast tothe fact that their lives are severely affected by the pandemic.They provide economic, social and psycho-social support, but arelargely excluded in the planning, resource allocation and programme

implementation of governments and developmental health andhumanitarian agencies. For more information, contact Roselyn Gicira,roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.orgProtecting IDPs in SomaliaInternally displaced (IDP) women in Somalia are particularly

vulnerable to gender-based violations within IDP communities.Somalia is a clan-based society that has strict socio-culturalstructures for its members. Displacement and relocation disruptthese structures, leading to gender-based violations of women during

times of transit and at their settlement areas. Protection for IDPshas emerged as a key component for humanitarian actors in Somalia,including UNIFEM, and a UN Joint IDP strategy is providing aframework of action and calling for collaboration among all

stakeholders, including IDPs themselves. There is a clear need toidentify, recognize and addr ess the special vulnerability of IDPsand raise awareness of their special needs among local authoritiesand other relevant stakeholders.

Participants of a recently concluded series of trainingworkshops for humanitarian actors in Somalia reiterated theimportance of exploiting all protection mechanisms available withinthe Somali community to protect IDPs, with host communities and

traditional elders having the responsibility of overseeingimplementation. They stressed the importance of sensitizingdisplaced communities about their rights and empowering them toclaim them. They also agreed on the development of programmes aimed

at preventing displacement with an emphasis of tackling the rootcauses of displacement in Somalia. Civil society and women'sorganizations were seen as key players in the provision ofpsychosocial support and counselling often needed by survivors of

various forms of abuse. UNIFEM and its partners are working in thecountry to train peer psychosocial counsellors on dealing withgender based violence and its link to HIV/AIDS infection withintheir co mmunities. For more information, please contact Roselyn

Gicira, roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

[Guest guest]

SAD INDEED.

On 6/9/06, Chifu <chifu2222@...> wrote:

Focus On Grandmothers: Silent Managers of Home-Based Care forOrphaned Children and Children Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya

Grandparents in Africa today, especially elderly women, are findingthemselves parents again — to their grandchildren. As HIV/AIDS takesits toll, increasing numbers of grandmothers already taking care oftheir sick or dying children must also provide care and shelter to

their grandchildren. Many also take in orphaned children withnowhere to go and no one to care for them. " I could not even afford to buy paracetamol as a painkiller or anti-itch cream for his rash. He decided to throw himself in a well

because the pain was too much. I had nowhere to turn to. I couldonly pray to God. I am now left to look after his five children.These children are always hungry, so we always have to tie our beltstight. We as old mothers and old fathers are crying to Kenya to help

us. We have educated you our children, now we want you to help thesechildren. " —Grandmother from Ahero, KenyaGrandmothers in Kenya recently had an opportunity to dialogue with , Special Representative to the Secretary General on

AIDS in Africa, during his mission to Kenya. The dialogue wasorganized by UNIFEM and HelpAge Kenya to raise visibility for thesituation of elderly women as care-givers, a considerablymarginalized group in society living with high levels of poverty.

Twenty grandmothers who provide home-based care for theirHIV/AIDS-affected grandchildren and orphans spoke up about the majordifficulties they face on a daily basis and how they would like thegovernment and civil society groups to help. Their limited

involvement in HIV/AIDS interventions stands in sharp contrast tothe fact that their lives are severely affected by the pandemic.They provide economic, social and psycho-social support, but arelargely excluded in the planning, resource allocation and programme

implementation of governments and developmental health andhumanitarian agencies. For more information, contact Roselyn Gicira,roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.orgProtecting IDPs in SomaliaInternally displaced (IDP) women in Somalia are particularly

vulnerable to gender-based violations within IDP communities.Somalia is a clan-based society that has strict socio-culturalstructures for its members. Displacement and relocation disruptthese structures, leading to gender-based violations of women during

times of transit and at their settlement areas. Protection for IDPshas emerged as a key component for humanitarian actors in Somalia,including UNIFEM, and a UN Joint IDP strategy is providing aframework of action and calling for collaboration among all

stakeholders, including IDPs themselves. There is a clear need toidentify, recognize and addr ess the special vulnerability of IDPsand raise awareness of their special needs among local authoritiesand other relevant stakeholders.

Participants of a recently concluded series of trainingworkshops for humanitarian actors in Somalia reiterated theimportance of exploiting all protection mechanisms available withinthe Somali community to protect IDPs, with host communities and

traditional elders having the responsibility of overseeingimplementation. They stressed the importance of sensitizingdisplaced communities about their rights and empowering them toclaim them. They also agreed on the development of programmes aimed

at preventing displacement with an emphasis of tackling the rootcauses of displacement in Somalia. Civil society and women'sorganizations were seen as key players in the provision ofpsychosocial support and counselling often needed by survivors of

various forms of abuse. UNIFEM and its partners are working in thecountry to train peer psychosocial counsellors on dealing withgender based violence and its link to HIV/AIDS infection withintheir co mmunities. For more information, please contact Roselyn

Gicira, roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your maail which is very challenging. I feel to share

about the copying strategies of Communities in relation to infection

and affection in the face of HIV and AIDS.

Having worked in the communities for a period of time a number of

issues due hapen which are not addressed but for us to address the

communities issues more effectively we need to be part of the

community and this will give us a community face in addressing their

issues. Thes grandmother issues in one of the bad experience that we

see in the communities because we didn't address the real issues on

time and in some of our prorgammes we still wants to play small in

the face of HIV and AIDS. Please let us pool together in addressing

issues affecting children at the best interest of the children for a

better tommorrow.

Our playing small today miight make the world have a community with

out direction. People lets fight togethe, share some of the promising

practices that have worked in our organizations to enable a helping

relationship.

People are basicaly good.

Omondi Ouko

Pandipieri WiRED CHIC

>

> Focus On Grandmothers: Silent Managers of Home-Based Care for

> Orphaned Children and Children Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya

> Grandparents in Africa today, especially elderly women, are finding

> themselves parents again — to their grandchildren. As HIV/AIDS

takes

> its toll, increasing numbers of grandmothers already taking care of

> their sick or dying children must also provide care and shelter to

> their grandchildren. Many also take in orphaned children with

> nowhere to go and no one to care for them.

>

> " I could not even afford to buy paracetamol as a painkiller or anti-

> itch cream for his rash. He decided to throw himself in a well

> because the pain was too much. I had nowhere to turn to. I could

> only pray to God. I am now left to look after his five children.

> These children are always hungry, so we always have to tie our

belts

> tight. We as old mothers and old fathers are crying to Kenya to

help

> us. We have educated you our children, now we want you to help

these

> children. " —Grandmother from Ahero, Kenya

>

> Grandmothers in Kenya recently had an opportunity to dialogue with

> , Special Representative to the Secretary General on

> AIDS in Africa, during his mission to Kenya. The dialogue was

> organized by UNIFEM and HelpAge Kenya to raise visibility for the

> situation of elderly women as care-givers, a considerably

> marginalized group in society living with high levels of poverty.

> Twenty grandmothers who provide home-based care for their

> HIV/AIDS-affected grandchildren and orphans spoke up about the

major

> difficulties they face on a daily basis and how they would like the

> government and civil society groups to help. Their limited

> involvement in HIV/AIDS interventions stands in sharp contrast to

> the fact that their lives are severely affected by the pandemic.

> They provide economic, social and psycho-social support, but are

> largely excluded in the planning, resource allocation and programme

> implementation of governments and developmental health and

> humanitarian agencies. For more information, contact Roselyn

Gicira,

> roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

>

> Protecting IDPs in Somalia

> Internally displaced (IDP) women in Somalia are particularly

> vulnerable to gender-based violations within IDP communities.

> Somalia is a clan-based society that has strict socio-cultural

> structures for its members. Displacement and relocation disrupt

> these structures, leading to gender-based violations of women

during

> times of transit and at their settlement areas. Protection for IDPs

> has emerged as a key component for humanitarian actors in Somalia,

> including UNIFEM, and a UN Joint IDP strategy is providing a

> framework of action and calling for collaboration among all

> stakeholders, including IDPs themselves. There is a clear need to

> identify, recognize and addr ess the special vulnerability of IDPs

> and raise awareness of their special needs among local authorities

> and other relevant stakeholders.

> Participants of a recently concluded series of training

> workshops for humanitarian actors in Somalia reiterated the

> importance of exploiting all protection mechanisms available within

> the Somali community to protect IDPs, with host communities and

> traditional elders having the responsibility of overseeing

> implementation. They stressed the importance of sensitizing

> displaced communities about their rights and empowering them to

> claim them. They also agreed on the development of programmes aimed

> at preventing displacement with an emphasis of tackling the root

> causes of displacement in Somalia. Civil society and women's

> organizations were seen as key players in the provision of

> psychosocial support and counselling often needed by survivors of

> various forms of abuse. UNIFEM and its partners are working in the

> country to train peer psychosocial counsellors on dealing with

> gender based violence and its link to HIV/AIDS infection within

> their co mmunities. For more information, please contact Roselyn

> Gicira, roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your maail which is very challenging. I feel to share

about the copying strategies of Communities in relation to infection

and affection in the face of HIV and AIDS.

Having worked in the communities for a period of time a number of

issues due hapen which are not addressed but for us to address the

communities issues more effectively we need to be part of the

community and this will give us a community face in addressing their

issues. Thes grandmother issues in one of the bad experience that we

see in the communities because we didn't address the real issues on

time and in some of our prorgammes we still wants to play small in

the face of HIV and AIDS. Please let us pool together in addressing

issues affecting children at the best interest of the children for a

better tommorrow.

Our playing small today miight make the world have a community with

out direction. People lets fight togethe, share some of the promising

practices that have worked in our organizations to enable a helping

relationship.

People are basicaly good.

Omondi Ouko

Pandipieri WiRED CHIC

>

> Focus On Grandmothers: Silent Managers of Home-Based Care for

> Orphaned Children and Children Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya

> Grandparents in Africa today, especially elderly women, are finding

> themselves parents again — to their grandchildren. As HIV/AIDS

takes

> its toll, increasing numbers of grandmothers already taking care of

> their sick or dying children must also provide care and shelter to

> their grandchildren. Many also take in orphaned children with

> nowhere to go and no one to care for them.

>

> " I could not even afford to buy paracetamol as a painkiller or anti-

> itch cream for his rash. He decided to throw himself in a well

> because the pain was too much. I had nowhere to turn to. I could

> only pray to God. I am now left to look after his five children.

> These children are always hungry, so we always have to tie our

belts

> tight. We as old mothers and old fathers are crying to Kenya to

help

> us. We have educated you our children, now we want you to help

these

> children. " —Grandmother from Ahero, Kenya

>

> Grandmothers in Kenya recently had an opportunity to dialogue with

> , Special Representative to the Secretary General on

> AIDS in Africa, during his mission to Kenya. The dialogue was

> organized by UNIFEM and HelpAge Kenya to raise visibility for the

> situation of elderly women as care-givers, a considerably

> marginalized group in society living with high levels of poverty.

> Twenty grandmothers who provide home-based care for their

> HIV/AIDS-affected grandchildren and orphans spoke up about the

major

> difficulties they face on a daily basis and how they would like the

> government and civil society groups to help. Their limited

> involvement in HIV/AIDS interventions stands in sharp contrast to

> the fact that their lives are severely affected by the pandemic.

> They provide economic, social and psycho-social support, but are

> largely excluded in the planning, resource allocation and programme

> implementation of governments and developmental health and

> humanitarian agencies. For more information, contact Roselyn

Gicira,

> roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

>

> Protecting IDPs in Somalia

> Internally displaced (IDP) women in Somalia are particularly

> vulnerable to gender-based violations within IDP communities.

> Somalia is a clan-based society that has strict socio-cultural

> structures for its members. Displacement and relocation disrupt

> these structures, leading to gender-based violations of women

during

> times of transit and at their settlement areas. Protection for IDPs

> has emerged as a key component for humanitarian actors in Somalia,

> including UNIFEM, and a UN Joint IDP strategy is providing a

> framework of action and calling for collaboration among all

> stakeholders, including IDPs themselves. There is a clear need to

> identify, recognize and addr ess the special vulnerability of IDPs

> and raise awareness of their special needs among local authorities

> and other relevant stakeholders.

> Participants of a recently concluded series of training

> workshops for humanitarian actors in Somalia reiterated the

> importance of exploiting all protection mechanisms available within

> the Somali community to protect IDPs, with host communities and

> traditional elders having the responsibility of overseeing

> implementation. They stressed the importance of sensitizing

> displaced communities about their rights and empowering them to

> claim them. They also agreed on the development of programmes aimed

> at preventing displacement with an emphasis of tackling the root

> causes of displacement in Somalia. Civil society and women's

> organizations were seen as key players in the provision of

> psychosocial support and counselling often needed by survivors of

> various forms of abuse. UNIFEM and its partners are working in the

> country to train peer psychosocial counsellors on dealing with

> gender based violence and its link to HIV/AIDS infection within

> their co mmunities. For more information, please contact Roselyn

> Gicira, roselyn.gicira[at]unifem.org

>