Uganda Pioneers' Association

PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO 25 HIV/AIDS ORPHANS AND CONSTRUCTION OF BASAJJANSOLO MEMORIAL TRAINING CENTRE
Basajjansolo
11th August - 1st September

Project back ground

Over 90% of the HIV/AIDS orphans in Luwero District live in acute shortage of access to Psychosocial support and guidance.

Given this background it is important that these orphans get the opportunity to be introduced to Education that positively contribute to improving their living conditions and assure them a hopeful future.

Career guidance education in vocational, life skills and providing emotional care therefore becomes an inevitable intervention. Without this, the orphans remain vulnerable to a situation that further exposes them to emotional behaviour, losing hope, stigma and discrimination. With the HIV/AIDS rate still at 23% in Luwero District, the challenge of handling orphans affected by HIV/AIDS is expected to outstrip the available services in the District in the near future. Basajjansolo Community Development Association (BACODA) is a community-based organisation founded and registered in 2003 under Ref NO. CD - 312 - 03 of Luwero District Community Development Department which tries to do something about this problem.

Since its inception, BACODA started construction of Basajjansolo Memorial Training Centre to provide basic, vocational and life skills education to HIV/AIDS and other disadvantaged orphans. The training Centre too plans to provide Psychosocial support and guidance to orphans by offering them the opportunity to access education that aims at creating own jobs than seekers for self-reliance.
Besides basic education the centre intends to train orphans in extracurricular activities including sports, music, dance, drama and craftsmanship skills. Today, the Training Centre has two classrooms already roofed and intends to start on life skills training to 25 HIV/AIDS orphans come April 2006. The training shall be tailored to include activities that will build self-reliance, reduce emotions and raise hope in these orphans as a means of fighting stigma, discrimination and unemployment in HIV/AIDS and other disadvantaged orphans in Luwero District.

The workcamp activities shall therefore rotate on building the training centre and the capacity of the 25 HIV/AIDS Orphans towards self-reliance.

Project objectives

Classrooms construction at Basajjansolo Memorial Training Centre
Conducting Psychosocial support and guidance Training sessions to workcamp participants and 25 HIV/AIDS orphans through Games, Sports, Music, Drama and open discussions.
Sensitise 500 people in 4 villages of Luwero Town Council on the need to care for HIV/AIDS orphans in order to reduce Stigma and discrimination.

Expected results

50 people shall be sensitized on caring for HIV/AIDS Orphans
A classroom will be built at Basajjansolo Memorial Training Centre
25 HIV/AIDS orphan shall interact with the work camp participants
Reduced cases of Stigma in HIV/AIDS orphans in Luwero Town Council
Increased awareness in the people of Luwero Town Council on the need to understand, intervene, relate and effectively manage the psychological and social dynamics of HIV/AIDS orphans.

Activities

Construction of a classroom

Brick laying
Mixing sand and cement
Collecting bricks, mortar and water

Psychosocial Support and guidance for HIV/AIDS orphans

Lectures on HIV/AIDS, Counseling and care for orphans
Open discussions and debates
Games, Sports, Music, Dance and Drama with the orphans

Orphan support home visits and Interaction with HIV/AIDS affected families

Cultural and educational visits

Visit HIV/AID orphans Centre - Bamunanika
Visit Luwero Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre
Visit HIV/AIDS Post Club � Bamunanika

Who qualifies to participate

One with Positive attitude, willing to interact with a diversity of cultures
Ambition to help HIV/AIDS orphans and affected families
Ability to Adopt and enjoy living in simple conditions.
Willing to taste a variety of local foods and rural accommodation

NB: No special or particular expertise/skills required, however participants with skills in Psychosocial support and guidance, interactive games, handling children issues and counseling stand an added advantage.

Location

The work camp shall take place in Galuwero Zone L.C1 Village, Luwero Town Council, Luwero District. The Project site is located 2km on Ngoma rd, from Luwero, 60km North of Kampala on Kampala - Gulu Road. Luwero District is located in the central part of Uganda boarded by Wakiso District in the south, Nakasongola in the north, Nakaseke in the North-west.

Health services

Kasana Health Centre is only 4 KM, while Kiwoko main Hospital is only 12km away. Where the sickness insists, the project site is located only one and half hours� drive to the main Hospitals in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.

the host community

The project location is in a predominantly Baganda population speaking Luganda with a good number fluent in English.

The work camp shall draw participants from Basajjansolo Community Development Association on behalf of the local community, Volunteers from Uganda Pioneers' Association and a few volunteers to be invited from Kenyan and Tanzanian counterparts.

The local community shall be involved in the project during the home visits and work camp participants' drama presentations to the general public. The debates and discussions shall too be open for participation of the local population. It is hoped that the local community shall heavily benefit in the drama presentations and discussions where topical issues on extending emotional care to HIV/AIDS orphans shall be discussed.

Participation

A maximum of 30 participants is expected from the local community, UPA Branch members from around Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and International participants from different countries. Participants are expected to work for 5 hours a day on the construction and have Games, sports, Music, Drama and group discussions in the afternoon. On some days too external resource persons shall be invited to conduct formal training sessions on the work camp theme.

Water Source

The Project site has access to piped water and bore hole is 200 meters away from the project.

Climate

Uganda currently faces a very changing weather. The month of August continues to be characterized with a mixture of Rain and sunshine. It is therefore occasionally wet. It is advisable to bring a rain coat, rubber boots, warm cloth and umbrella. Please bring some light cloth too it may turn out to be hot despite the rains.

Accomodation

The project will provide one big classroom. Participants shall be required to carry along own working shoes, gloves, cloth, sleeping mats, bags and mosquito nets. Carrying your national flags, pictures and different games reflecting your own life, culture and Country will be appreciated for the group interaction and sharing if possible.

Meals

Volunteers will divide themselves in Groups to prepare own meals using charcoal and firewood. There is a variety of local foods to choose from.