AK Vulnerable families project

The HIV epidemic affects children disproportionately. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that 15 million children have lost one or both parents to the disease, and many more are living with sick caregivers. This leaves children vulnerable to a range of poor outcomes, including dropping out of school, early marriage, transactional sex, and HIV infection.

If infected, children are less likely to access HIV treatment than adults: Less than one-quarter of the 3.2 million children living with HIV/AIDS are receiving treatment. Community-based programs for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) are important links for families to health and social services – ensuring that caregivers are able to meet the needs of children, that children at risk are tested for HIV, that HIV-positive children access and adhere to treatment, and those adolescent girls stay safe, in school, and on track to reach their potential.

At Airkmay we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life, and there is nothing more life-changing than providing a young child with a family and education.  We are currently providing care and support to 50 most vulnerable families referred by the community, affected or living with HIV, neglected children, vulnerable girls and young women, elderly, with a wide range of services which includes the provision of dignity packs for adolescent girls, cash transfers, school uniforms, and school fees, scholastic materials, transport to the clinic to keep their appointment dates, medical bills payment, clothing, shelter and renovations, psychosocial support and counseling, provision of food baskets, positive parenting education, good nutrition counseling, business literacy training & income-generating activities.

The goal is to improve the wellbeing of the children and support them to be resilient and thrive within their homes and communities, by ensuring they can request and gain access to social services (health, nutrition, education, legal protection, psychosocial support, and social protection). We are also working to improve their livelihood options so they can better care for themselves. We also seek to enhance the economic resilience of the children’s households and caregivers and their ability to protect and care for these vulnerable young people.

Airkmay has embraced case management and a family-centered and community-based model of care. This approach recognizes that each child, despite his/her condition, is unique, valuable, and with specific needs. It recognizes that the family is central to the growth, education, and development of the child and that the household and community play a vital role in nurturing the child. Each family is attached to an AK caseworker for follow-up and support to ensure targeted and comprehensive support is provided to these households to ensure resilience and successful transition out of the project giving opportunity for other new vulnerable families.

Donate and support this course.

You can join and support these children and make a difference by:

• Donation in-kind
• Clothes, shoes, pampers, dignity packs amongst others.
• Beddings
• Foodstuff
• Toys/play materials and books for children
• ICT supplies
• Payments of school fees and provision of educational materials.
• Provision of seed capital for the vulnerable families to start small businesses.
• Shelter renovation materials
• Payment of medical bills