Under the Anchor program which is USAID funded, HWWZ has a vision to strengthen and scale up community–based interventions to provide comprehensive care and to improve the quality of life for 19,935 OVC in the five-year period to 2010 and. In Through its Anchor program, HWWZ has reached over 10,000 individuals who provide care to 20,335 OVC in four communities of Lusaka, namely, Mtendere, Kalingalinga, Chawama and Kanyama. In its effort to strengthen the capacity of families to care for and support OVC, 665 OVC caregivers and service providers were provided with basic counseling skills and psycho-social support training in 2009. The caregivers have formed support groups for women and men who come together once a week and are involved in income generating activities (IGA) and are registered with the registrar of societiesn of Zambia . Some of the things they do are Beading, Baking, Home based care, making of Jerseys, and Revolving funds. In order to realize this vision, HWWZ is pursuing three strategic objectives. These are as follows:
• Increasing care and support for OVC;
• Strengthening the capacity of families to care for and support OVC,HIV/AIDS; and
• Mobilizing and strengthening community-based OVC responses. HWWZ has been working in the area of community-based care and support of OVC affected by HIV/AIDS in Zambia. HOPE’s OVC programming is in line with the “UNICEF, UNAIDS and USAID Framework for the protection, care and support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children” .Through ANCHOR, HWWZ intervenes for the child on multiple levels:
• Child Level: Psychosocial support is offered through programs offered such as Kids Clubs, counseling (Child Rights, Abuse, HIV/AIDS), structured group / play therapy and support groups; physical support is provided through nutrition programs, education support, health and resource mobilization for material goods and shelter.
• Family Level: Psychosocial support is offered through support groups, family counseling and educational work and physical support is offered in the form of food parcels, shelter improvement, and income generation; families are assisted in accessing official documentation and social services.
• Community Level: Sensitization and mobilization work done with communities, childcare forums are established and empowered; other child-serving organizations are trained and mentored and some receive a sub-grant.
• System Level: Work is done in partnership with local and national government and an advisory role is assumed where relevant, Public Private Partnerships are formed and resources mobilized.
