2nd National Conference on Orphans and Other ... - FHI 360

accommodate children who are exempted from
paying fees. The OVCNSC was asked to look
into this. Did it do so and what did it find?
Answer (Petronella Masabane): We did look
into this and I reported this morning that we are
in the process of developing certain guidelines
as well as a <strong>National</strong> OVC Trust Fund, both of
which will address the issue of incentives for these
schools. But we are also looking at the possibility
of direct transfers to children to cover all their
needs, including educational, health and food
security needs. We have laid the groundwork,
and hopefully the new committee will take the
matter further, perhaps as a priority.
Comment: I hope that the scrapping of school
uniforms will not be considered. This was done
in America, the result being a loss of discipline
and schools falling to pieces. A uniform brings
commitment and pride, and it stimulates team
work. Subsidise rather than scrap them.
Comment: I wish to point out that the goal of
“quality” education places OVC under tremendous
stress because they have to cope with the
pace of the schools competing towards this goal.
Leonard Diergaardt
First I would like to thank the valiant candidate
who talked to our group. I don’t think
that I would have been brave enough to do what
she did.
The group first looked at the background of
the 17-year-old who elaborated on her past and
present situation. We then identified general
needs and problem areas, searched for ways to
address these, and came up with a recommendation
for each of four major problem areas.
We should bear this in mind when talking about
access to “quality” education for OVC.
Comment: It is very important for the service
providers to get to know and to network closely
with local people who are close to the children.
Comment: On the statement that the extended
family is no longer helpful, this differs according
to geographical location and other factors. In the
Caprivi, for example, the extended family system
is still strong, and grandmothers and others want
to care for the children of deceased relatives and
actually refuse to be separated from them, but
the problem is a lack of resources. It is important
to make these distinctions.
Comment: I wish to recommend that a single
structure be set up in each region through which
all role-players in the OVC programme network
and co-ordinate activities. Many of us are providing
services, but we cannot tap one another’s
resources because we are not networking and
co-ordinating properly. I propose that if we pool
resources through a single legitimate structure,
we will respond to the crisis more effectively.
GROUP 3
(Red Group)
Facilitators:
Ms Adolfine Mushimba, C&ECD Division, MWACW
Ms Mariane Shalumbu, C&ECD, MWACW
Mr Clive Willemse, COLS
Rapporteurs:
Mr Leonard Diergaardt, SOS Children’s Village Association
Mr Clive Willemse, COLS
Story of a Girl Child:
1. At 5 years old she last saw her mother and
father. She lived with her grandmother up
till the age of 9, when the grandmother died
and she ended up on the street.
2. She was picked up by a good Samaritan –
“a lady”.
3. She was then linked with a government
social worker and ended up in a children’s
home, where she still lives.
24 <strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children – Windhoek, Namibia, 25-27 June 2002: Full Report