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

and caregivers could afford to buy uniforms and
scholastic materials. The Government covers
tuition fees only, and the families have been
empowered to cover all the basic needs of the
children in their care. Finally – an issue that
encourages us – we went back to our traditions.
We asked who looked after these children before
the donors came. The orphan issue was there
Venancius Rukero, a former street child who completed Grade 12 in 1998 with
financial support from the MoHSS After School Centre, recited a poem – a unique
and indescribable one, but one participants will recall with a smile!
The Jan Möhr Secondary School choir performing during the next session.
even before AIDS. What mechanisms were used
in the past? We revisited our roots, especially
the idea that a child belongs to the community/
village; it is not just my child but everybody’s
child. These roots were and should remain very
meaningful. If there is time here we will watch a
video about our 16-year experience of working
with OVC in Uganda (see page 52).
30 <strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children – Windhoek, Namibia, 25-27 June 2002: Full Report