Annual Report - Summary of SOS Children's Villages work in 2010

 

… investment in the social sector has even increased despite the economic challenges

Mauritius has faced several socio-economic challenges in 2010.  With an economic growth rate of around 4% and a fall in domestic investment, the financial crunch has negatively affected various sectors of the economy leading to pressures on the social sector.  Unemployment has stayed at a relatively high level of around 7.6% affecting mostly the vulnerable groups.  Low income and casual employment have been serious obstacles for many families to properly care for their children.

However, it must be pointed out that despite the economic downturn, Mauritius has taken appropriate measures to mitigate the ripple effect of the financial crisis, safeguard jobs and support the most vulnerable groups. The government, through the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) for instance, has invested in social programmes to assist our needy citizens. In this regard, partnership with the non-state actors has been further strengthened. NGOs have actively supported several social empowerment initiatives, inter alia, food assistance for children, access of children to schools, community development actions to support families. The government has maintained its welfare programmes (e.g., free education and health services and the universal social security coverage) and support to NGOs. Significant resources have been made available to NGOs by way of public funding in order to address various social problems. It is motivating for NGOs that investment in the social sector has even increased despite the economic challenges. Indeed, the mandatory contributions of companies to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes have boosted growth in the social sector. The focus has been on children, the family, education and poverty alleviation.  Unfortunately, addressing these issues also require profound policy changes specially in education, housing and employment. There has been growing awareness that situation concerning children and youth in Mauritius in 2010 has not been satisfactory with reported cases of violence against children and women.

… the National Association has helped more needy children

            Against this backdrop, SOS Children’s Villages Mauritius has been quite active in responding to the various challenges and opportunities.  In 2010 the Association has been able to help more needy children in the two SOS Children’s Villages and the Family Strengthening Programme (FSP). In fact, 942 children have received regular assistance from SOS compared to 626 in 2009. The social workers have also helped many of the 481 parents of children who have received support from the FSP. Besides, the SOS Kindergartens in the two Children’s Villages have provided pre-primary

education to 255 kids. The Hermann Gmeiner Training Centre, has trained 21 pre-school teachers and 31 crèches caregivers, thus contributing to improving quality in the childcare sector.

The strategic framework of the Association has enabled a balanced development in 2010, ensuring adequate attention being given to the two components of our target group namely, children having already lost parental care and those in disadvantaged areas who are at risk of abandonment. 

The table below indicates the number of overall children who have been directly helped under the SOS Children’s Village Programme in 2010.

Table 1 – Number of children cared in 2010

Facilities/ Programme	Number of beneficiaries
Children having lost parental care SOS Children’s Village Beau Bassin	97
SOS Children’s Village Bambous	48
Youth facility	20
SOS Kindergartens	255
Children at risk of losing parental care Children (primary beneficiaries) in Family Strengthening Programme (FSP)	777
Total	1197

… Education has been the top priority of the Association

            Almost all the children under our care have been enrolled in educational institutions most appropriate to their needs. The remedial education and literacy programmes have been reinforced. The Association has successfully implemented an IT-based Literacy programme in partnership with the NGO “Société pour la Promotion des Entreprises Spécialisées” (SPES). The project was financed by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare. The 32 children were happy to participate in several developmental activities, including sports and the National Youth Achievement Award Scheme of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Various other educational support were given for children to succeed to the best of their potential. One of our children in the Village has succeeded at the University of Cambridge Higher School Certificate examinations and is interested to pursue tertiary education.

 

… major activities having a pedagogical slant organised

Staff training and development have been our priority for capacity building in order to continuously enhance the quality of care. The staff has acquired new knowledge and skills to be able address new difficulties.  A Human Resource Assessment and training in performance management were conducted.  In order to better motivate our children regarding education a workshop on “Learning Culture“ was organised.  The other major activities having a pedagogical slant organised in 2010 included team building activities to address burn-out problem of residential staff, a Kindergarten parents’ satisfaction survey, training in child protection policy and programme mentoring and evaluation.  Newly hired staff have also received regular mentoring to support their integration in the Association.

 

... 32 children have been back to school

The Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) has been quite vibrant in various localities reaching nearly 800 children. The Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare has financed the FSP programme in Bambous. Some 32 children in the FSP have been back to school, and it is observed that many families are moving towards self-reliance. Several activities were organised to sensitise children and caregivers on the issue of poverty and child rights. Schools, youths and parents were targeted.

 The FSP has worked in network with other NGOs and governmental agencies.  It is worth noting that the partnership with the community-based NGO “Ecole de La Vie”in Baie du Tombeau for sharing and capacity-building has progressed. This partnership formalised by a Memorandum of Understanding will enable SOS to reach out more children in distant localities.  The FSP was extended to new localities, namely, Cité Atlee, Cité Joachim, Cité Malherbes, Baie du Tombeau, Barkly, Chebel, Camp le Juge and Cité St Luc. 

 

… an innovative concept in addressing inter-related social issues

A major development in the FSP is the construction of an Educational and Learning Centre (ELC) Curepipe which will introduce an innovative concept to address inter-connected social problems like children’s education, health and nutrition and family empowerment. The construction of the Centre has been delayed and it is expected that the facility will be operational in March 2011. This project is a new concept which integrates the school and the community. The plot for the construction of ELC project was donated by Mr. Gilbert Renel and the construction has been financed by SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde, Luxemburg.

 

... high standards of reporting, accountability in finance and auditing

The Association has been able to accomplish most of its objectives for 2010 thanks to the support and trust of our valued donors and supporters. In 2010 several companies have helped under their Corporate Social Responsibility programme to finance the household expenditures (food, clothing, medical expenses and recreational activities) of our family houses, education and psychosocial support for our children. The work of our volunteers and individual donors have equally helped for the running of the programme and its expansion. Board Directors’ orientation and staff training including, mentoring, workshops on various policy issues like Child Protection, performance management, has enabled the Association to maintain high standards of reporting, accountability in finance and auditing to keep our promises with donors.

Thanks to the support of all our stakeholders the Association looks forward to offer a better care to more children in 2011.

 

AMEDEE DABEECHARUN

General Manager

Head Office