1. Hearing Children’s Voices
Developing an OVC Policy for the Limpopo Department of Health and Social Development
Juliana Thornton
XVII International AIDS Conference, Mexico City
7 August 2008
Excerpts previously presented at HIV Implementers Meeting, Uganda, June 2008
Juliana Thornton
2008 HIV Implementers Meeting, June 3rd-7th

2. Current Interventions
National Policy Framework for OVC, July 2005
National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS, 2007
Welfare Grants
Child Care Forums
Drop-in Centres
Various NGO models

3. Context
Limpopo is home to 14% of the country’s children – 4th largest population
3.7 million Orphans in South Africa in 2006 – 21% of all children (Child Gauge 2007)
Limpopo is home to almost Orphans
On the border with Zimbabwe
High unemployment, poverty, HIV/AIDS

4. 60 children; 2 sets of 3 workshops; 5 districts of Limpopo
Methods
60 children; 2 sets of 3 workshops; 5 districts of Limpopo
Phase I
Rights Tree
Power Walk
Policy Makers
Phase II
Community Theatre
Debate
Child Friendly Societies

5. Ethics
Work with established NGO’s Code of Conduct for all adults and children Safety and Security Policy Non-discrimination Consent

6. Rights Tree & Power Walk

7. Policy Makers

8. Main themes from Children’s Policies:
Goal:
“To build a better future for all children, not just OVC”
Needs of OVC
Free Education from 5 to 21 years old
Shelter (i.e. Foster parents, recreational facilities, RDP)
Social Grant from 0 to 21 years
Home Based Care Programmes
Duty bearers “by our side or nearby”
Tertiary education /Skills building (a recurring theme)
Place of Safety
Implementation/Programmes
Children’s Rights Education (schools, communities)
Support Groups
Drop-in Centres as Resource Centres for skills building
Bursary programmes
OVC Forums in schools – child protection

9. Debating a Draft Policy
Phase 2:
Debating a Draft Policy

10. Community Theatre
A pressing issue (such as abuse or welfare) is dramatised through a workshop process
The play is presented at a school/workshop/community meeting
The end of the play is open-ended – there is no resolution to the problem
Audience members are invited onstage to dramatise a resolution.

11. Community Theatre

12. Debate
“It is better not to get any money at all rather than to be called orphans because of HIV”
“Let us agree with the name so we can get more support. Those people who are HIV positive are receiving lots of money”
In our tradition an orphan is an orphan, not necessarily made that by HIV
Debate Methods adapted from Children’s Rights Centre

13. Implementation Municipal Office of the OVC - decentralise
Drop-in Centres – education, reach
Reducing Stigma
Child Care Forums in schools

14. The Children’s Voices:
Child Participation “We must be involved in the decision-making process as we are the people who will be affected”
Stigma: “We might get more money if we say we are affected or infected by HIV and AIDS, but actually it’s not about money because money will never be enough. We want the government to help us without the issue of HIV”
Human Resources: “The Municipality office is too far from our centre so it will be good to have someone who can come to us”
Drop-In Centres: “They give us one plate of food but when you reach home you find your grandmother and grandfather have no food, what about them?”

15. Conclusions
Those who have “benefitted” advocate for more broad-based action, extension of services
More children affected in future
Focus on future livelihoods
Basic infrastructure – wider benefit
Child &Youth Participation

16. Thank you! Noah Phone: +27 11 234 2270 Fax: +27 11 234 2271
Sekhukhune Educare Project
Phone: /1
Fax:
Authors:
Juliana Thornton
Phone:
Shadrack Mphela
Phone:
“This document is an output from a project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID or the Limpopo Department of Health and Social Development.”