|
HIV/AIDS is one of the most challenging public health problems
faced by India. India now has the highest people living with
HIV/AIDS. According to the 2006 report on Global AIDS Epidemic
(Geneva), India had 5.7 million cases of HIV by the end of
2005, against 5.5 million in South Africa. As in other countries,
here also AIDS is perceived as a disease of others - of marginalized
people. People affected with HIV/AIDS not only face severe
problems related to poor care and inadequate services, but
are also discriminated in the society due to their condition.
The negative attitude held by people of communities has generated
anxiety and fear among people living with HIV/AIDS.
The children of parents infected with HIV/AIDS have to especially
encounter several problems. Whether their children are positive
or negative, they are denied the right to go to school or
are separated from other children. Since, India comprises
a huge population; the actual number of children already orphaned
by AIDS is very high. In 2001 the number of orphaned children
was already estimated at 1.2 million. (World Bank, 2002 ''Number
of AIDS orphans to rise'). This number is expected to be more
than double in five years. These orphans are at a greater
risk to contract HIV. Recent guidelines developed by UNICEF
focus on child-centered, family and community oriented, and
human rights based guiding principles on care and support
for children and adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS.
Keeping in mind these facts and understanding the need, we
initiated an Udayan Outreach Programme in 2004, catering to
affected children of HIV positive parents. This programme
aims to provide financial aid to the affected children of
HIV infected parents, so that they are able to receive better
nutrition, schooling and prospects of a better future. We
aim to establish a long-term relationship with the children
through financial aid, workshops, counselling and home visits.
In the eventual loss of the parents, the children are assured
of a home with us in our Udayan
Ghars (Homes). This would ensure eventual rehabilitation
of these children.
Started with three children in 2005, currently 41 children
are benefiting from this programme and a child has been rehabilitated
into the Udayan Ghar Programme after her father passed away
and mother fell too ill to look after her. This programme
has been made possible by funding from Kidstuff Promos
and Events, a Delhi based promotional marketing firm as
well as an individual, Pooja Jhavar. Technical assistance
for this programme is provided by The Naz Foundation (India)
Trust.
|
 Selection
Process
Udayan Care and Naz Foundation
(India) Trust (NI) identify and select HIV affected
children for the Udayan Outreach Programme. Naz Foundation
assesses the families based on certain set criteria.
Once incorporated, the children and parents are afforded
all the benefits of the programme.
Beneficiaries selected for the Udayan Outreach Programme
should conform to the following criteria:
- Both the parents are tested
positive to HIV antibodies and the same has been verified
by the recommending NGO, i.e. Naz Foundation.
- The beneficiary is the non-infected
child of such parents though he/she may have infected
siblings.
- The family is residing in the NCR
of Delhi and is one of the families receiving ongoing
services from the recommending NGO, i.e. Naz.
- The family is from a very poor economic
background, having no or irregular source of income.
Total monthly family is not to exceed Rs. 3000.
- The capacity of the earning member
in the family is compromised because of his/her illness
and frequent admissions in hospitals.
- Preference will be given to single
parent children, especially those who have a single
mother.
- The beneficiary must be in the age
group of 4-10 yrs.
- Preference will be given to
children who are undergoing formal schooling.
|
|
Financial
Contribution
We are providing Rs. 750/-
per child for his/her nutrition, tuitions and schooling.
All payments are made through cheques either in favour
of parents or in few cases, directly in the children's
account. These cheques are given every month on the
second Saturday, when parents and children come to our
office for capacity building workshops.
|
|
Capacity
Building Workshops
Stigma and discrimination
against people living with HIV/AIDS and those considered
to be at high risk remain entrenched. A lot of this
is a result of inadequate knowledge, people living with
HIV/ AIDS experience discrimination and social exclusion.
It leads to lowered self esteem and severe depression.
In order to aid such people in combating this social
exclusion and helping them cope with their present state
of mind, monthly capacity building workshops are held
by us with the parents as well as with the children.
These workshops are held on every second Saturday of
the month, when the parents and children come to us
to collect their cheques.
With Parents: For
collective action we are facilitating them in order
to make a Mutual Support System. It is imperative to
expose people living with HIV/AIDS to different livelihood
options available to them, so that they could start
a small enterprise and enhance their present standard
of living. In order to achieve the same, information
is imparted related to varied livelihood options such
as micro credit and several others. Also, sometimes
an exercise of problem sharing is done with them; wherein
people living with HIV/AIDS since long, having experienced
various kinds of trauma, help other inf ected
parents combat their problems.
With Children: Although the children
are unaware of the condition of their parents, they
eventually would have to face a lot of stigma in their
lives. A number of empowering exercises are done with
them such as story telling, art therapy and craftwork
in order to encourage them and develop a right attitude
towards life and society, for developing confidence,
and understanding importance of education.
|
Click
here to donate
for this Project.
|
