Children's Village for OVC

[Guest guest]

CHILDREN's VILLAGE, a setting for OVC to learn, enjoy and be safe

AIDS is one of the most common causes for orphaning among children.

Children are loosing their both / single parents and becoming Orphans. The

significant issues children facing are coping with trauma, facing stigma and

discrimination, feeling of insecurity; dropping from schools, becoming bread

earners, losing childhood, sibling separation, anxiety for placement of stay and

identity crisis.

" After my parents' death where do I stay? " chases the children.

These issues are showing their impact on the physical and mental growth of these

vulnerable children. If the Orphan is an adolescent girl she faces more risk

than boys. She easily fell in love and sometimes it leads to trafficking and Sex

work.

Vasavya Mahila Mandali is basically working with Home and Community based

HIV/AIDS care and support but it is being noticed that different models are

needed to meet the demands of these children.

So a children's Village was initiated at Vemavaram, Vijayawada Rural, Andhra

Pradesh, India a transit home to provide care and support to these children

since April 2008. It provides shelter, food, education and improving health

status in a homely atmosphere involving the extended family members in the care

process. Above all children are taken into the hug and provide warmth.

Children's Village accommodates 30 - 35 orphan children under the age of 14

years including both genders. VMM is providing psychosocial support through

child centric counseling methods, continuous medical follow up and ART

adherence, education in the local government schools and balanced nutrition.

VMM developed strong linkages with government managed educational institutions,

health care services and social welfare schemes. Children's Vulnerability

decreased with the support of VMM: placement with extended family, counseling of

family members and encouraging the community for foster care are the strategies

to mainstream the children for placement in communities as children need to grow

in family environment. Financial support, Care and Sponsorships are major

challenges for mainstreaming of these children as some of them are living with

HIV.

Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM) is a non –profit, non political, secular, voluntary

organization working for the overall development of the women, children and

youth. For the past 4 decades, Vasavya has been working in the rural areas as

well as urban areas, with secular outlook for the socio economic upliftment of

the target groups.

VMM is involved in prevention and care/support and treatment of HIV and AIDS in

22 districts of Andhra Pradesh among general population, migrants, street

children and children affected and living with HIV.

VMM reached more than 30,000 children affected by HIV and living with HIV with

network of NGOs in Andhra Pradesh.

At present VMM is looking for sponsorships to 30 children to provide continuous

care at Children Village. It estimates that for each child INR 2500 per month

and INR 30, 000 per year.

Interested Organizations, Trusts, Corporate Companies, Philanthropists and other

likeminded people please feel free to contact at below address to join hands to

see a smile on the face of these children like our children.

Please visit our website: - Website: www.vasavya.com

Contact Address:

Vasavya Mahila Mandali, Benz Circle, Vijayawada 520 010, Andhra Pradesh, India,

Phone: 0866 – 2470966, Mobile : +91 98 48122121Fax: 0866-2473056, Email:

vasavyamm@...

With Regards

Keerthi Bollineni

Technical Support Manager

Vasavya Mahila Mandali

Benz Circle, Vijayawada

Andhra Pradesh, India.

e-mail: <vmmchildren@...>