Wezi Tjaronda
29 July 2008
Windhoek — Most orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) being looked after by their siblings, as well as poor households, are at risk of exposure to violence and abuse, the Church Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) has said.
The pressures associated with the high cost of living have forced many of these children to drop out of school as they worry more about where to get their next meal.
CAFO Director, Dr Henry Platt, told New Era that seeing no one was looking out for them, most OVC who are being looked after in poor households are at risk of exposure to violence and abuse.
The death of many parents especially due to HIV/Aids, has forced some children to head households and look after their siblings. Platt said although child-headed households appeared to be on the increase, they are still reported to be rare.
More common though, said Platt, are junior-headed households, which refer to households headed by an older sibling or cousin, usually between 18 and 25 years.
Platt said most child-headed households were being looked after by extended family members but in some cases the families could not cope and left the children unattended.
A study on child-headed households in three regions in Namibia in 2005 found that out of 200 children, 33 were heading households. At the age of 17, which was the average age of the children interviewed in the study, more than half the child heads were girls, while half were learners.
One in four of the respondents said they lived alone because they had no one to move in with as their relatives already lived with many other dependants.
However, the other reason was that the relatives did not want to take the children in.
He said that since most children feel that no one is looking out for their welfare, churches should play a stronger role in looking after OVC.
"We think the churches can play a stronger role. It is important for churches to discuss the specific roles they would play in addressing this need," Platt said.
Although there are many interventions focusing on OVC at present, their high numbers require the involvement of more.
Platt said, "Yes, there are many volunteers but there is a critical need for more."
The immediate needs of OVC include care and direction, support with clothes, food, spiritual guidance, love and care as well as shelter where they can feel safe.
Rural areas are the worst hit due to limited resources in the households the children live in, as well as lack of people or organisations that can provide these services to the needy children.
Estimates are that around 180000 children under 18 have lost one or both parents. Of that number, approximately two-thirds were orphaned due to Aids-related illnesses. The Ministry of Health and Social Services anticipates that by 2020 it will exceed 250000.
CAFO provides direct and indirect support, which includes financial and psychosocial support to 7000 children annually through small grants.
The alliance has also initiated a N$10 campaign to sustain its activities, to which it is urging all Namibia to be part.
CAFO has grown from a six-member organisation to a network of 380 churches and other local faith-based organisations. It operates through 68 ecumenical pilot committees in towns and villages throughout all 13 regions in Namibia.
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