CHILD AID CHINGOLA End of Year Report

Transcription

1 Development Aid from People to People CHILD AID CHINGOLA End of Year Report January to December 2013 To U-landshjelp fra Folk til Folk, Norge 1

2 Name of Project: Child Aid Chingola Implementing Organization: Development Aid from People to People in Zambia Report period: January to December, INTRODUCTION Child Aid in Chingola started in 2009 and it works with children, families and communities in order to improve their living conditions and ensure that the children develop to their full potential. Child Aid Chingola carried out activities in all the 10 line, including line 9 Low cost technologies and line 10 Women Empowerment. The project aimed to empower families and communities to increase household income, knowledge and improve attitudes towards improved child care and upbringing. Although the 2013 year plan included activities in all 10 lines, the project identified during the implementation some areas which needed support and the following activities were added to the plan: in school peer educators training, community wells rehabilitation and firewood saving stoves construction. Activities were during the year handed over to the community as the Child Aid project was completed by end of December PROJECT ACTIVITIES Line 1: Improving income and food security for the families The project provided families with the necessary training inputs to be able to serve a healthy balanced diet and to increase the income through farming and other productions. This was meant to strengthen the economy of the families and to increase income and welfare for families in the operational areas. Business loans: The project gave out 50 microfinance loans to empower the participating community action groups and women clubs in order to sustain their livelihoods. Trainings were carried out in business skills before the disbursement of the loans. The project has throughout its 4 years of existence given out 1,400 loans with 97% repayment rate. Most of the people (mainly women) who have benefited from the loans has significantly improved their income and livelihood. For some vulnerable women such as widows the loans became as stepping stone for them to move forward in life. A total of 41 families received passed on loans of goats. Village Action Groups received 60 kg of beans which were distributed to selected households as revolving loans. Line 2: Health and Hygiene The project put emphasis on achieving the goal for all participating households to be WASH compliant. Trainings and sensitisations were conducted during review meetings hence urging the households to practise and demonstrate good hygiene practises. This entails that each 2

3 household complies with WASH basic needs including hand wash facility with running water, latrines, good and clean kitchen cupboard, clean drinking water, refuse and composite pit, dish rack, clean drainage systems. In particular the project achieved: Construction of 71 new traditional latrines; Replacement of 243 hand wash tip taps; Improvement of 121 water points with covers; Digging of 326 new refuse pits. Line 3: Preschools The project conducted 3 preschool teachers review trainings to emphasise the Child Aid methods of early childhood teaching, discuss challenges, find solutions and make action plans. A meeting was conducted per quarter with the project staffs and the parents on how they can improve their support to the community preschools and the teachers. In particular, 3 preschools (Shimulala, Sunrise and Kakosa preschools) succeeded in establishing preschool committees by actively involving the parents in maintaining the structures, and sharing responsibilities in order to improve the preschools premises and activities. Line 4: Children as active in political, economic, social and cultural spheres The project carried out review meetings in youth clubs to discuss on the achievements and challenges faced. Leadership skills review trainings were carried out with 18 youth club leaders (2 from each Youth Club involved in the project) and during the training the youths mentioned some of the challenges affecting them in the community like lack of employment, lack of sponsorship to tertiary education and drug and alcohol abuse. The training helped the youths engage in open discussions on how they can resolve the challenges they are facing including the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As a result the Clubs undertook various activities to raise incomes, including vegetable production, and other recreational activities like sport. Line 5: Children without parents The project worked with families in making sure orphans and vulnerable children within the community are registered and given basic physical and social needs as well as ensuring they regularly attend school. Line 6: Education A total of 90 school Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Peer educators were trained in 9 schools. These trained WASH peer educators participated in water and hygiene activities and public events, they acted as role models, helped keep the surroundings of the schools clean, they made duty roaster on WASH activities and ensuring they were adhered to by all pupils 3

4 in school. Peer educators involved other pupils in demonstrations on how to use the toilets and how to wash hands with soap or ashes. They reported to the school management on any damaged water and sanitation facilities. Line 7: District Development A total of 241 review meetings were conducted. During the meetings participants discussed project achievements, challenges and brainstormed solutions. Review meetings were conducted with individual VAGs to help the participating families understand how they can work together on improving the living standards and create development in their communities. One of the issues discussed was early marriages in the community and the Zambia Police were also invited to address the community in relation to defilement since it involves children below the age of 16. Other activities included support to sick people in the hospitals, cleaning of clinics and markets, cooking demonstrations to promote healthy and nutritious diets. The project has participated in National events and international events commemorated at District level. CONSTRUCTION OF SHIMULALA HEALTH POST The construction of Shimulala Health Post was successful thanks to the active contribution of the community which recovered 25% of all the needed material for the construction and partnered with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Community Development, the Council and the MP office. The facility offers ante natal care and services to children under 5 years old. Line 8: Environment The project mobilised the community in a tree planting day, 165 trees were planted. A total of 79 firewood saving stoves were constructed and the VAGs have taken the responsibility to continue sensitising the community to construct stoves. Line 9: Low cost technologies including sustainable energy A total of 10 wells were rehabilitated and installed with rope pumps. Meetings were conducted in every area where water points were installed so that people fully understand how we can ensure sustainability of low cost technologies and know that the responsibility lies in their own hands in taking care of the pumps. 4

5 Line 10: Women empowerment A total of 16 Women s Clubs was formed; 14 out of the 16 have registered and have applied to the Department of Community Development for more support. Trainings in record keeping and leadership were carried out during meetings, and the clubs have created a structure to establish yearly activities and plans. 3. EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES Improved income and food security among participating households: The promotion of improved farming methods and the pass on loans of goats and legumes, as well as the provided micro credit have proven successful. The main impact is among women who have succeeded in diversifying their income activities and have hence increased the food security within the family. Improved household hygiene and sanitation: Poor health is a major obstacle for children to survive and communities to develop. Improved access to clean water and sanitation is key to the overall improvement of health and it is fundamental in preventing diseases like cholera and diarrhea. Improved female participation in decision-making and increased sharing of work in homes: The establishment of Women s Groups developed under line 10 of the Chingola Child Aid has contributed to the empowerment of women in the community who have reported an increased in their participation in household decision making. This is also thanks to the increased income derived from business diversification already mentioned on the first point. The graph highlights the impact on the community structures of the Women s Groups as 14 out of 16 groups have successfully registered under the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health. Community based structures and service delivery systems strengthened to take a leading role: The community involvement and participation in the construction of the Shimulala Health Post and its successful outcome (as per text box at page 4) has further strengthen the ability to work together as well as partner with national structures. 5

6 4. ANNEXES - Annex 1: Output table The project in numbers January to December 2013 CHILD AID CHINGOLA SUMMARY Goal Achieved Variance Number of employees Number of area leaders Number of Village Action Groups (VAG) Number of Families in Village action groups 2,700 2, Line 1: Strengthening the economy of the family Number of families that received pass on loans (recycled livestock, ) Number of farmers who receive Micro Finance Number of families that have received lessons to improve income 2,700 2, Line 2: Health and hygiene Number of families participating in health campaigns and health lessons 2,700 2, Number of Support Groups for PLWHA Line 3: Preschools Number of preschools supported Number of registered pupils Line 4: Children as active in the political, economic, social & cultural sphere of society Number of Out of School Youth Clubs Number of members in clubs Line 6: Education Number of schools in the program Number of peer educators in schools Line 7: District development Number of VAG review meetings conducted Number of community wells rehabilitated Number of field visits by district stakeholders Line 8: Environment Number of trees planted 2, ,835 Number of firewood saving stoves constructed Line 9: Low cost Technology Number of rope pumps produced and sold to private households/ other organizations Line 10: Women empowerment Number of women groups active Comment: The number of trees is low but it does not include the DAPP tree planting campaign taking place at the end of December The 2013 annual plan did not include certain activities but they were included during implementation, in such cases the goal box is 0. 6

7 Annex 2: Pictures from the Child Aid Chingola IMPROVE THE INCOME OF THE FAMILIES Goat raised shelter Youth Income generating project Legume Harvest 7

8 HEALTH AND HYGIENE Washing hands from a Tip Tap Training of latrine masons 8

9 DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT Women club exhibits at a district show PRESCHOOLS Parents with preschool pupils 9

10 Annex 3: Success Stories SHIMULALA GETS A HEALTH POST Shimulala is a rural setup located about 8 kilometers from Chingola along Chililabombwe road. The community has a population of 1631 people. Some people settled in the area after leaving employment in the mining companies. About 80% of the residents are small scale farmers. Some of the challenges faced by the people include unemployment, poverty, poor sanitation and the high HIV prevalence. The lack of health facilities in a community was a major problem for the people. Before the health post project started it was a challenge for people to access health care and information as the nearest clinic is far away. In 2009 the integrated community development project started under the DAPP Child Aid project. The aim was to improve the livelihood of the people in a community. Committees were formed to help address the needs of the community and mobilize people within the action groups to a take lead in a community. Child Care committee was formed to look at health and hygiene concept. The committee was to deal with health matters in the community. The project conducted the community meetings to educate people about the importance of health post in community. The Action groups mobilized the community to mold bricks for the health post. The community members were happy with the health post project progress and participated in molding 8000 blocks. They contributed 25% up front material and a builder was engaged to construct Shimulala health post within the greed period of three months. The works were done together with MPs office, Ministry of Health and the District Commissioner. Despite not officially handed over to the district, under five and ante-natal is taking place at Shimulala health post. The community is happy that they have a health facility near them. 10

11 WASH COMPLIANCE IN SOWETO COMPOUND Soweto is a peri-urban area and has a population of about 4,326 people living. The community did not have good sanitation before the project started due to lack of knowledge and health information. Diarrhea outbreak was common and many lives were lost. Judith a resident of Soweto compound joined the program in 2009 as a member of an action group. She benefited a rope pump and health education from the Child Aid project. After gaining knowledge on health and hygiene, she started adhering to good sanitation standards and her home is a model in the compound. She says, from the time she became WASHE complaint and put up dish racks, refuse pits, tippy taps, toilets, and started cleaning her surroundings the family has not had diarrhea outbreak. Judith says the community has learnt how diseases are spread and prevented, how to improve hygiene and sanitation, and also how to treat diarrhea among others. She says the community has improved in basics sanitation and has toilets, dish racks, refuse pit and also know the importance of washing hands before touching food, after using toilets and cleaning their surroundings. The people have become WASHE complaint and have learnt how to fight water borne diseases. She says it is important to have and use tippy taps especially after using the toilet as this helps avoid bacteria that cause diseases. Judith says the use of dish rack as a drying utensil stand is good as it keeps animals away from reaching them. She hopes the whole community including those that are not under the project can adopt and become WASHE complaint. Judith says a rope pump she benefited from the project is helping not only her family but also her neighbors access safe clean drinking water. Previous the people were fetching water from unprotected or open wells which had contributed to the community have diarrhea outbreaks often. 11

12 Annex 4: Recommendation Letter 12