Introduction

It is long believed that properly planned afterschool programs, rather than adding traditional “seat time” to the school day, can advance classroom learning and strengthen children’s overall academic and social skills through engaging in several types of enrichment activities.

In May 2013, CHAIN once again organized the OVC holiday break program. It was a comprehensive and innovative program with a lot of activities and sessions including; sports, career guidance, sexual and reproductive health, letter writing, guidance and counseling, reading and spelling skills, video show, music, dance and drama, child partners, child rights and responsibilities. It ended with a parents/guardians meeting whose aim is to strengthen the guardian, child relationship and encourage greater involvement of guardians in the children lives.

OVC program status

By the end of the first term’s holiday 2013, a total of 137 OVCs were benefitting from the program of which 5 children are in pre-school, 103 children are in the primary section, 15 students in the secondary section, 7 students in trade schools (under the apprenticeship arrangement) and 7 students in Universities. During this academic year 2013, a total of eleven (11) children will be sitting their PLE (Primary Leaving Examinations).

1.0 Activities

1.1 Children’s third term recap. Children were tasked to draw and color what they have gone through during the term. That is, life at school, home in their respective communities – the challenges and successes. They made presentations of what they had drawn to the rest of the team. Among the drawings presented by the children were birthday cakes, sick relatives in hospitals, death of teachers’ child at school among others. These drawings are one way of understanding how children feel and are going through. It’s an opportunity for them to express their feelings.

1.2 Reading, Listening and Spelling skills.

Children were grouped according to their classes and each group was given a story to read, interpret and share lessons learnt. The big children were given a Children’s reader on HIV/AIDS Awareness with a theme – Peer Influence and HIV/AIDS.The reader has life skills that will help pupils protect themselves from contracting HIV/AIDS and cope with HIV/AIDS related challenges. Apart from enhancing the

children’s’ reading skills, it emphasizes peer grouping among adolescents as key aspect that requires a lot of guidance. Answers to the corresponding questions at the end of each chapter were given and a spelling exercise was conducted.The younger children were given short story books which they read in groups of threes and fours.

Left are the big children listening to story from the reader and right is a group of three young girls reading the story book.

1.3 Child Rights and Responsibilities.

The session mainly focused on violence against children. How children feel when violence is committed against them. Children from primary five onwards were put into one group and a booklet on “Violence against Children” was read. A discussion on different types and descriptions of Violence against Children that could be spotted in the story was held, consequences for the children and what should be done to prevent violence against children. Children’s rights vis-à-vis their responsibilities were spelt out to enable children learn and differentiate the two terms. Children were then tasked to draw and color violence against children that they have ever encountered.

Children from lower primary formed one group and a discussion on various types of violence against children was held. They were tasked to draw and color violence against children that they have ever heard of or encountered. They also discussed what needs to be done to prevent violence against children.

Left are children in the upper primary section reading a booklet on Violence against children and right are children in the lower primary making drawings of violence against children.

1.4 Letter writing.

A time for children to communicate to their sponsors! The children used different methods to decorate the letters. It was fun as each child wanted to have the best letter as seen in the pictures below.

Left is Timothy Amutuhairwe & right is Suzan Nakyondwa busy decorating their letters.

1.5 Skype session

The Children were excited to see Virginia and Jerry during a skype call. The experience was one that they will never forget! They would love to have many more! The power of that call cannot be overemphasized. The words of encouragement and care from a sponsor were more than they had bargained for. The CHAIN staff also had an opportunity to discuss several issues regarding the OVC and other CHAIN programs. .It is our sincere hope that this can be organized atleast once or twice a year.

Left is Dorcas supporting Swalik during the chat and right are the new children on the OVC program introducing themselves to Jerry & Virginia.

1.6 Career Guidance.

Career guidance activity directs the children in the right path, enabling them make right choices. It helps them appreciate the value of education and good quality of life and thus reduce school dropout rates.

OVCs in upper primary and secondary had a career and guidance session with the Advocacy and Communication Officer at CHAIN offices. The session focused on the children’s performance in relation to what they want to be in future. They were encouraged to work hard to attain good grades to enable them achieve their dreams!

Daphine Nakulima, a P.6 pupil with her report card, reading to others the class she is in, her position in class, and aggregates she attained. This is meant to encourage them to work hard.

1.7 Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Sexual and reproductive health needs to be a priority for anyone who wants to live a fully healthy life. During the transition from childhood to adulthood, adolescents establish patterns of behavior and make lifestyle choices that affect both their current and future health. Serious health and safety issues such as, violence, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors among others can adversely affect adolescent and young adults.

Based on this the adolescent children had a session on sexual and reproductive health. They discussed issues on sexuality and how to overcome challenges and risky situations. A discussion on bodily changes in both boys and girls was held. Some children admitted that they have experienced some of the changes. The children were urged to talk to their parents or any other person they trust on issues or problems they face.

1.8 Counseling and Guidance

Counseling and guidance is an art of helping one gain self - understanding and self direction (self decision-making) so that one could accept and use information and advice to adjust maximally. Many times adolescents are lured into bad behavior due peer pressure. This has been evident with some adolescent OVCs; hence the need for the session. The session is tailored to specific children and needs.

Addah’s mother made a special request for this session, she felt she had done her part as a parent and therefore needed CHAIN intervention. Addah’s teacher had also expressed a need for her to go through counseling. The session was aimed at helping her refocus and concentrate on her studies.The session was conducted by Advocacy and Communication officer, CHAIN in the presence of Addah’s family members. It was an emotional session as Addah opened up to her family. She was asked to write, what she loves about herself, what she does not love about herself and what she is going to do to achieve a bright future. This was read to the family and a copy was kept on Addah’s file for future references.

Dorcas, a CHAIN Staff counselling Addah with her family .

Addah’s letter to Dorcas after a few weeks – a positive indicator that she will reform.

1.9 Child Partners

Children were introduced to a new approach of self management where they are paired based on the schools they go to and also their home/community. These children become friends and are responsible for monitoring each other both in terms of their academic performances at school and behaviours at home and in the community. The children are required to provide feedback to CHAIN. The feedback will enable CHAIN monitor the children’s academic performance and social well being for better results.

2.0 Parents / Guardians meeting.

Due to the findings from the school and home visits, interactions and discussions that were made with the various school administration and some parents plus disclosures from the children; a parents meeting was called to enable CHAIN discuss these issues with the parents/guardians and forge a way forward. It is also a time to remind guardians of their roles in regard to good parenting and support to the children both social and psychological.

Gladys – a CHAIN Staff updating the parents on the status of the OVC program, findings from the school administration during the fees payments exercise and the concerns that were voiced by the children during the holiday program.

CASE STUDY 1: Gaster Oboth – a beneficiary of the OVC program sharing with the guardians his academic journey. Every moment is full of messages - Consciously or

unconsciously these messages influence our thinking, conversations and belief in what is possible.

The parents were informed of the CHAIN self help project and how it operates and the need to save however little - for the future. “One by one – in the long run - makes a bundle”.

Dorcas – a CHAIN Staff introducing and engaging OVC parents in critical thinking - through the CHAIN Self Help savings scheme.

CASE STUDY 2: A CHAIN support staff - Annah Turyahebwa gave a testimony on how saving has enabled her to take her child back to school after she had sat for one term and there was no hope of taking her to school. She was encouraged to save and started with 90,000/=($40). At the end of the holiday, she was able to take her child to a good school and to pay for all the scholastic materials. She now wants to save more money for the next term and also get enough to support herself and her child.

Ms. Annah Turyahebwa – a CHAIN Support Staff, narrating how she came aboard the CHAIN Self help project & how it has helped her. Through such initiatives, we ensure messages go to the community on a scale and with a frequency that creates a lasting effect.

CASE STUDY 3: A parent – Ms Proscovia Nalubowa, was abandoned by her family members at Mulago hospital after realizing she was HIV positive. She got better by the grace of God and worked hard even when she was living with HIV, washed people’s clothes and worked as a counselor at TASO Mulago where she was getting her treatment. With the culture of saving, Proscovia bought 3 fridges, rented them out, bought a piece of land in Katooke – Kawempe division and started growing mushrooms for sale. Proscovia was able to build 3 rooms where she now stays with her grand children and a room where she does poultry keeping and mushroom growing. “Starting small is the way to go for us as low income earners; let’s therefore embrace the culture of saving and we will achieve our goals”, she urged her fellow parents.

At the end of the meeting, at least eight parents started saving with the CHAIN Self-Help project.

Ms Proscovia Nalubowa (Zawedde Pamela’s grandmother) narrating to the fellow parents what she went through and how her savings rescued her - messages, that aim to share a credible analysis, one that makes a convincing case within the local context.

2.1 Sports

Playing is another activity that children enjoy. Sports help children develop physical skills, get exercise, make friends, have fun, learn to play as a member of a team, learn to play fair, and improve self-esteem.

Left are children singing while acting and left are jumping ropes.

Left are children competing when running in sacks and right – playing football.

2.2 Music, Dance and Drama

This activity develops the children’s confidence and poise. They develop self esteem and develop their talents.

Boys drumming while girls are dancing to the tunes .

3.0 Other exciting activities in the OVC Program

3.1 A pictorial presentation of home visits during holidays.

Left in a pink top - is Eseza Nakitto enjoying an avocado with a friend and right is Coasta Zawedde and grandmother at their home.

Left is Shamila Nampijja – incharge of her mother’s stall who had gone to the market to purchase more vegetables for the stall. Right is Sauda Nakasi, Nambusi Doreen and Ashlaf Jjuko Walugembe writing their holiday homework on a veranda at their home.

3.2 A pictorial presentation of some school visits.

Asafu Munyagwa leading a discussion group at school.

Rehema Nakawungu locating a town on the map during the geography lesson. Home and school visits enable us to Interact with OVC guardians & their family members as well as school administration and class teachers. This bridges up the gap between the key players in educating and nurturing the child and harmonizes the responsibilities at the different levels.

Apprenticeship training and trade schools

Sperito Kaweesa is at the metal work and fabrication workshop in Kanyanya. It is now two months since he joined this workshop – training under an apprenticeship arrangement, he is now able to cut metals as per the required specifications and make items like metal window frames, doors etc. “In three months to come I will be an expert in this field”, said Sperito with a big smile.

Claire Nakiyimba is pursuing a 6 months course in hairdressing at Mirembe Community College.

Betty Nakirijja is soon embarking on a 2 months course in product development (tailoring of products) at Textile Development Agency (TEXDA).

Right is Sperito cutting an angle bar and left – he is welding the angle bars.

Sperito applying paint on the window frame.