World Education (WEI)/Bantwana Initiative:

Reducing Children’s Vulnerability with an Integrated Livelihood, Protection, and Psychosocial Support

(PSS) Service Package

The Bantwana Initiative is a joint program

of World Education, Inc. and John Snow, Inc. (JSI)

Bantwana’s Mission • Find sustainable, local solutions in

caring for OVC and caregivers in high HIV prevalence countries

• Improve environment of OVC support through policy and advocacy

• Identify effective entry points to comprehensive OVC service delivery:

• Bantwana’s programs in Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland reach 90,000 OVC annually

▪ health ▪ education▪ livelihoods ▪ nutrition

▪ shelter ▪ child protection▪ psychosocial support▪ legal rights

Western Uganda Context

• High HIV and poverty have led to high numbers of OVC at risk for exploitation, abuse, and HIV infection

• Since 2008, Bantwana has built the capacity of 9 CBO partners to deliver integrated livelihoods, child protection, and psychosocial services in four underserved districts

• 4,500 children and their caregivers have received integrated support

The Western Uganda Bantwana Program

• Livelihoods: 1,191 households have received support; 56 village savings and loans have been formed with 1,353 members linked to broader markets

• Child protection: 55 Child Rights Clubs formed in schools, community-level systems strengthened through improved referrals

• PSS: monthly home visits by 144 trained PSS volunteers who provide critical emotional and social support as well as information on health, nutrition, and livelihoods

Tools & Results Child Profiling Baseline and Follow up Study (2009 & 2011): An integrated livelihoods, child protection, and PSS service package positively impacts child-level wellbeing

Child Protection Case Studies (2010): Strengthened linkages among school, community, government and households improves child protection outcomes

PSS Assessment (2010): Monthly visits by PSS volunteers significantly contribute to improved emotional wellbeing of caregivers and children

Evaluation Study (with Columbia University 2011): Strong correlation between improvements in household economic status and improvements in meeting children’s basic needs and overall wellbeing