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SOS Children’s Villages Project submitted for the 2nd Edition of the National NGO Award 2008
Category: Poverty Alleviation
Background
Over the recent years the organization has realigned its strategic objectives to respond to the local needs and priorities of the country in addressing poverty which is the root cause of child abandonment. Thus, the long-term residential care based on the family concept that is provided through the SOS children’s villages is effectively complemented by the preventive work through the Family Strengthening Programmes (FSP) introduced in 2004. The FSP seeks to prevent children from being deprived of the care of their family by addressing the causes of family break-down. This innovative approach that works simultaneously at the levels of the family the community and the child is to support vulnerable families and communities to improve their ability to protect and care for their children, ensuring that children are able to grow up within a caring family environment. A sharp focus is put on children who are at risk of abandonment and whose rights are not respected. There is also a strong networking at all levels (from grass root to policy making). Local structures are empowered and SOS Children’s Villages Mauritius works in collaboration with other the various state and non-state actors.
The programme was initiated in Mangalkhan, Curepipe and being given its success it has been extended to Bambous, Black River. The FSP is now being further extended to reach out poor families and children in pockets of poverty in other regions of the country.
Relevant activities organized from 2005 – 2008
Outreach community-based intervention for poverty alleviation and empowerment of vulnerable families
Implementation of the Family Strengthening Programme to empower families, address poverty and prevent child abandonment in 2004.
Capacity building
Creation of a training centre, the Hermann Gmeiner Training Centre (MQA registration number No. 00174) to share knowledge, best practices and deliver approved caregivers’ training to promote quality in childcare and upgrading in pre-school education. The participants are staff of the organization as well as those of other institutions.
Education and training of children
Creation of a Vocational Education and Training Centre and Remedial Education Programme. The philosophy of the VET as a non-traditional course is to provide exposure to various trades as well as build the self-esteem of children. The Remedial Education Programme provides academic and literacy courses to some 40 children in the community to address primary school failure.
Summary of activities for 2008
Poverty Alleviation Area
The programme is offering outreach community-based services in three locations; namely, Cité Mangalkhan, Bambous and Curepipe (Cité Anoska and Camp Tifine). The intervention in Curepipe was initiated in 2008. SOS Children’s Villages Mauritius collaborates with the Eradication of Absolute Poverty programme targeting pockets of poverty in Mauritius.
Beyond working with families within the network of NGOs, the organization has coordinated the training programme delivered together with SAFIRE and ANFEN for social workers on the pilot project.
During 2008 (as of November) a total of 632 beneficiaries - 398 needy children and 234 parents – have regularly and systematically been visited and couselled by a team of professionals in Family Strengthening Programme to empower families, address poverty and prevent child abandonment as shown in the table below.
The main activities organized for children and families are summarized in the following table. Main Activities according to services offered | Locations | Number of Primary Beneficiary | No of Secondary Beneficiary | | | Services | Services | | Access to Education | Back to school | Survival needs of chidren | Psycho- social Support | Medical Support | Counsel-ing | Psycho Support | Medical support | Refer-rals | | Mangalkhan | 120 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 42 | 2 | 3 | 20 | | Bambous | 72 | 5 | 30 | - | 4 | 25 | - | 4 | 112 | | Curepipe | 47 | 11 | 10 | - | - | 16 | - | | 12 | | TOTAL | 239 | 22 | 48 | 2 | 7 | 83 | 2 | 7 | 144 |
The key community services organized targeting beneficiaries of the programme are summarized as follows:
- Children: talks to children on child protection issues including CRC, educational outings, special revision classes for CPE pupils,
- Family: Roles and responsibilities, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse with the participation of other NGOs like MAM, PILS.
- Developmental activities: educational outings etc
Stand Up Call
Some 150 beneficiaries of the Family Strengthening Programme gathered on 17th at Cité Mangalkhan, Curepipe and on 18th October 2008 at Bambous in response to the worldwide Stand Up call to take action against poverty. The event was focused on the exploration of the obstacles met by beneficiaries to overcome poverty.
An exploratory approach using semi-structured focus groups was adopted. Each group consisted of not more than 10 participants and included a team leader and a note-taker. Questions were centered on three out of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), namely
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
The participants were guided to explore why they faced major difficulties to improve their situation in spite of several programmes by the government and key non-state actors like SOS Children’s Villages to tackle poverty.
The findings will be referred to policy makers, agencies operating at community level including NGOs and foundations. For instance, it might be inferred that the communication or announcement of government programmes and services might need to be effective. Policies might need modification. New services have been identified and need to be further explored. Many deterrents or ‘costs’ that block the poor in adopting the desired behavior have been mentioned.
Establishment of a database of children at risk
A data base of beneficiaries has been established to ensure systematic programme monitoring and evaluation of all registered cases. All the children’s records are regularly updated.
Facilitate access to services
Access to services relates to parents/families as well as children. Support services for parents are meant to address family problems and empower them to better care for their children. In all 78 registered families were receiving various forms of services.
The programme has undertaken a number of referrals and advocacy work for the beneficiaries, of which housing is a major one. The table below shows the actions taken in favour of beneficiaries.
Concerning housing, the programme has strongly advocated vis-à-vis the Empowerment Foundation, the Trust Fund for Social Integration of Vulnerable Groups (TFVG) and the Ministry for Women’s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare (MWRCDFW) on behalf of the potential beneficiaries.
The action has also focused on access to appropriate education, personal growth and development, leisure, and child protection. Remedial education was implemented to assist children in normal education stream.
Besides education other developmental services, namely structured leisure through pedagogical outings (like the visit to Historic Marine Museum), information about their rights and obligations were organised.
Activities organized regarding capacity building for parents include counseling on parental skills and the education of children, birth control, hygiene and health, housing and child care.
Last but not least, considering the importance of the family for sustainable integration, the organization has introduced structured intervention to assist biological families of children in its residential care programme and this has allowed the integration of a number of children and also offering second chances to others already integrated.
Programme Monitoring, control and development
All cases have been systematically followed-up new ones approved during case management meetings. Good governance and accountability is ensured through the Project Implementation Committee.
A half-day workshop to discuss how to improve the remedial education programme was organized. The issues addressed were:
- Curriculum improvement in relations to children’s needs
- Teaching methodologies
Programme impact and behaviour change
Through referrals and counseling, several families have obtained a better job, children are back to school, attending private tuitions and more regular at school, and parents are regularly attending medical treatment, beneficiaries sensitized on various issues. The economic empowerment of the families is indicated by less dependency of food assistance.
An indication of the gradual change in behaviour in reversing the poverty cycle is summarized below.
- Reduced dependency on food voucher
- Parents are gradually, though slowly, developing interest in improving their plight and that of their children
- Children’s attendance in afternoon remedial education programme is considered as satisfactory
- Educational performance based upon individualized programme shows that the programme starts bringing results
- The motivation of the children and their pride in displaying symbols of their success is also manifest.
Involvement of stakeholders
Board members
Members of the Board make key policy decisions and set the overall direction of the association in response to children’s needs. They fully support, assist and motivate the senior in addressing challenges of the association.
Volunteers
They provide support by giving their time, financial support, and services. They also give emotional support and care to beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries are whether adult or children participates in the mechanism in place. Children have their views listened to in Children’s Councils and meetings. Their inputs are used in the SOS programmes to ensure that their needs are attended to. Adult beneficiaries and families form the local committee that meets to discuss community actions, share experiences and also serve as psycho-social therapeutic groups. A key example is the participation of beneficiaries in the Stand Up global campaign against poverty held in October 2008 at Mangalkhan and Bambous focusing on the identification of obstacles to get out of the poverty trap.
Five reasons for which SOS Children’s Villages Mauritius should be proclaimed most outstanding NGO in the field for 2008
Responsiveness: The organization has been successful in constantly adapting its strategy to respond to changing local needs. It has expanded its services from core residential care to outreach preventive community-based action focusing of developmental services to address poverty. The shift has been done while remaining faithful to its mission and values.
Innovativeness: Innovation is considered as the key to success to any organization. This has been possible through regular sensing of the environment and adopting a research approach. Innovative activities have been introduced in key functional areas the FSP, social work practice (Family Development Planning tool – refer to Annual report 2007), child protection policy, vocational training, education, fundraising and communication.
Sustainability: The organization has held its promises and upholds its mission over the past 15 years, thereby earning the respect and trust of the stakeholders and supporters – government, private sector and individuals.
Impact: Notwithstanding the difficulty to work with the most vulnerable children and families, the organization has directly rebuilt the lives of many children under its care as well as their families. Indirectly, through its two schools, community work and training of caregivers it is contributing to a better society.
Good governance: As an NGO SOS Children’s Villages Mauritius has over the past seven years introduced modern management principles, tools and techniques to ensure accountability, transparency, a performance culture, efficiency and efficiency. The main ones are: strategic planning, performance management system linked to recognition, programme evaluation, communication network, and internal audit. The organization is also subject to control under the Company Act 2001, in addition to its accountability within NGO regulatory framework.
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| A kid playing on the beach for the first time |
An FSP location |
Areas where the FSP team operate |
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| Beneficiaries visiting a sugar factory |
Beneficiaries visiting a tea factory |
Remedial class in Bambous |
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| Remedial class in Bambous |
SOS youths helping to 'relook' the place |
The house of a beneficiary with 3 children before |
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| The house of the beneficiary after |
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