Grantmaking, Health
Orphans and vulnerable children: A corporate social investor’s basic guide
12 July 2010
According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC), children’s rights are being drastically violated, specifically as a result of HIV/Aids.
These violated rights include: the right to family life and alternative care; the right to an adequate standard of living; the right to social security; the right to life and healthcare; the right to education; the right to play and recreation; the right to be protected from abuse and neglect; the right to be protected from exploitation; the rights of children with special needs; the right to participation, opinions and beliefs; and the right not to suffer discrimination.
For corporate social investors, the orphans and vulnerable children, or OVC, sector is one that has particular need. Research has indicated that, compared to other children, OVCs are more likely to do badly at school and/or drop out of school, have poor educational and vocational opportunities, have poor health and nutrition, lack love, care and attention, experience stigma and discrimination, experience economic exploitation and abuse, suffer sexual abuse and exploitation, become HIV-infected, lack emotional support to deal with grief and trauma, experience long-term psychological problems, take drugs and other substances and become involved in crime.
Tshikululu Social Investments client relationship manager and sector specialist Claire Hugo has compiled a review of the sector in South Africa, including the context in which grantmakers operate, government policy influencing the sector, and guidelines for interventions.
Comment posted by Reginald Miso
Noting with concern, that the seemingly unstopping (or is it unstoppable?) blatant violation of childrens rights seems to be growing, rather than slowing downward, I do have a suggestion, viz, the training of the guardians of these sinless kids. I’m convinced that a security training program I’ve identified which the guardians can be empowered and with that, enabled to be financially “advantaged”, to be able providers of things essential to their kids. I selected this field in that it has very much less stringent entry requirements in enrollment, requires less study periods and much simpler to learn.