SOLOLO REPORT

Progetto "Villaggio Obbitu Children"
(by Karol)
Introduction
This summary report aims at providing key findings that we established during our visit to Sololo as from 26th to 29th August 2008.
Methodology
Methods used to collect information include:
(1)Key informant interviews
This involved direct interviews with key people and agencies in the community, this helped us gain the insights of the community.
(2) Direct Observation.
Observing what was going on around in terms of economic activities, infrastructure and physical facilities.
KEY INFORMATION
We interviewed the following people.
Social worker: Ms. Tume
Health Worker: Mr. Paul
Education Officer: Mr. Matthew Galgalo
ALRED program Director: Mr. Waqo Alfred
CIPAD Director: Mr. Gufu
Mr. Guido from CCM
We asked all the key informants the same questions which included the following,
1. Please tell me more about this community.
2. What are some of the social and economical challenges that the Sololo community is facing.
3. What is the magnitude of orphans and vulnerable children in sololo?
4. How is the community currently coping with orphans and venerable children (OVC’S)?
5. Which are some of the projects running in this community?
6. Which one is the most successful?
7. How much do you know about the Obbijtu project?
8. What is your recommendation in regards of the approach that Obbijtu should take?
9. If we invited you to a stake holders meeting will you be willing to attend?
SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS
1. Almost all the respondents cited that the community suffered from the following
(1) High level of poverty
(2) Drought
(3) Raising number of orphans and vulnerable children due to HIV/AIDS
(4) Outlawed cultural practices female genital mutilation (FGM) among others.

2. Problem situation.
Traditionally the community absorbed its own OVC through their extended families; this is still going on although due to the poor economy situation.

Traditionally extended families were on the front line and main source of assistance for vulnerable children when parents die, children are traditionally fostered in the home of an uncle or aunty, when no uncle or aunty is left or when they have absorbed all the children they can. The Children maybe:
(1) Taken into the homes of grandparents
(2) Required to manage their own household without an adult (child headed households)
(3) Absorbed into the family of a neighbour

RECOMMENDATION
1. Come up with a clear definition and role of each player in the project.
2. Mobilize and sensitize the community about the Obbijtu project.
3. Strengthen the caring and coping capacities of the family and community.
4. Mobilizing and supporting efforts that will strengthen the community’s coping mechanisms and reach more children. Obbijtu can partner with other organisations like CIPAD which is already involved with OVC’S, carried out a needs assessment and establish how they can intervene.
ORGANISE
1. Institutional care to be used as interim measure and in emergency when a child’s life is endangered by neglect abuse or abandonment. This should be on short term basis as there should be mechanisms in place to reintegrate the child into family and community
2. Developed an effective equitable process to identify and prioritize the children most in need. The community should be involved in determining which children are most vulnerable and what factors should be used in assessing vulnerability.
3. Integrate or link with HIV prevention activities. Obbijtu can run a resource centre where different groups of people from the community can access it and learn more about HIV/AIDS, Parenting, Drug Abuse, and FGM etc.
4. Increase access to quality basic education especially in a pastoral community like this.
5. Strengthen project partnerships and build coalition among stakeholders, by working together can bring enough effort to bear a lasting difference