“The population of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) has been steadily rising. Researchers have also observed a reversal in child survival trends, primarily as a result of AIDS-related adult deaths. Although HIV prevalence is declining in Zimbabwe, OVC prevalence and incidence are likely to continue increasing. In addition, a growing number of children are fostered and made vulnerable by the epidemic.
Orphans and other children affected by AIDS suffer a catalogue of deprivations and vulnerabilities, including family dissolution, depression, malnutrition, lack of access to education and health care, homelessness, stigma, discrimination, abuse, increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancies. Consequently, they generally end up not realizing their full potential. Also, reported levels of physical and sexual violence are high in Zimbabwe in general, but moreso among adolescent OVC females. There is a strong need to sensitize the country and reach a large and growing population of OVC and their families in Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Many problems OVC currently face are tied to a lack of educational opportunity or other education disadvantages. One of Footsteps’s primary goals is to build schools and bunk houses which will enhance educational and nutritional programs, provided needed healthcare-related education, and to educate on the consequences of risky sexual behavior.
Source
Photo taken during our June, 2019 Namibia Initiative:
Building an open-access, fee-free learning center stocked with thousands of donated books
Our Unique Success
Footsteps for Africa has provided aid to over 5,000 OVC in over 50 schools and orphanages Namibia and Zimbabwe since 2010. We are more efficient than most other aids organizations in southern Africa because we ensure that we are physically present at every step of the humanitarian initiative, whether it be the importation and distribution of goods, the building of facilities, implementation of medical or food programs, etc. We ensure that the aid reaches those who need it most. Our partnerships with other aid organizations in Zimbabwe and Namibia, government relationships, knowledge of the culture and continual needs assessment ensure that our initiatives target the most critical needs and are deployed quickly, responsibly, and successfully.
Types of Projects We Focus On
Schools, Hostels, Educational Materials.
We build school building and fee-free learning centers. Schools required school fees; our learning centers do not. We also build hostels for school children who cannot live at home while attending school due to distance. These schools and hostels serve not only as an educational environment, but as a safe haven for children who, if left at home or forced to rent a room in the community, would be at high risk for rape and other abuse.
School Meals
The brain is 2% of the mass of the body, but takes up 20% of its energy. Often the only meal that school children eat during the day is the meal served at school. School meals, especially funding the acquisition of UNICEF’s CSB+ is a critical need.
Preventative Healthcare and Wellness:
We are working with the Ministries of Health, Red Cross and other partners, we are aggressively working on preventative healthcare initiatives in rural regions and innovative wellness programs in more populated areas.
