Psycho-social support

Psycho-social support (PSS) is an ongoing process of meeting the physical, emotional, social, mental and spiritual needs of people, all of which are essential elements for meaningful and positive development.

It recognises that material support is not adequate if the emotional and psychological aspect is not taken into account. Money is needed for development, but does not play the central role, as community involvement is paramount. The support given to children must be holistic in its approach and children must be motivated to move on with their lives, to cope with their situation and to become productive and happy members of society.

Our Psycho-social Programme for Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC) includes Experiential Learning Camps and Kids Clubs and aims to increase the well-being of children in challenging and stressful life situations, and at building the capacities of communities to provide them with psycho-social skills through the involvement of youth volunteers.

We believe that the youth, if given adequate training, can play a major role in combating HIV/AIDS and in empowering orphans and other vulnerable children.

The goal of Experiential Learning Camps is to enhance the child's coping skills in dealing with challenging and stressful life situations.

Children from various institutions and communities are invited to participate in these camps. At these camps, children who are orphaned or vulnerable due to circumstances are taught to overcome fears and difficult situations. Through participation in team-building and fun activities such as abseiling and obstacle courses, the children learn practical coping skills. Instructions on topics such as 'self-esteem', 'loss and bereavement' and 'sex and sexuality' provide additional intellectual stimulation and enhance the learning experience.

The Kids Clubs provide ongoing support for children who completed Experiential Learning Camps but need additional life skills and positive experiences for further growth and development.

During Experiential Learning Camps, group leaders are identified who will get the opportunity to establish Kids Clubs in their own communities.

PHOENIX
(Partners Helping Orphans' Empowerment Networks and Self Reliance Initiatives)

Philippi has been utilizing a participatory, child-driven approach to increased self-reliance in a pilot project which it has been conducting with the Kids Club in Osire Refugee Camp, some 250km north of Windhoek , since September 2006. Philippi will be replicating this approach in one Kids Club in Khomas or Hardap regions and hope to do with clubs in all regions with clubs.

The target population ranges between 12 – 18 years of age. Among these, two groups will be differentiated: The Project Youth Facilitators (PYF) and the Kids Club members. Group leaders will assist members to develop criteria and choose PYFs. PYF responsibilities will be to:

Using participatory, child-directed methodologies identify key problems facing OVCs in their community.
Select one problem upon which they want the project to focus.
Obtain and analyze relevant background information on the problem.
Identify and assess various activities that can be undertaken to address this problem, including constraints.
Select one or more of these activities to implement.
Prepare a small budget, if necessary (funds will be allocated to the Kids Club for the project but administered by Philippi ).
Draft work plan and implementation structure and lines of responsibility.
Determine Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) measures – to assess the success of their efforts.

Kids Club members between 12-18 yrs will be identified by the Project Youth Facilitators to assist with the implementation of activities. Support will be provided by the group leaders and mentoring visits by Philippi staff.

A self-esteem index will be used to assess baseline and post-intervention changes. A formative assessment of the program will be conducted by Philippi in the second quarter of COP 2008, along with a decision on whether to expand to additional Kids Clubs.