In the World Vision Kasangombe ADP in Luwero district in Uganda, village-level
stakeholder mobilisation meetings were held.These meetings explored the need to scale up local initiatives to support and protect OVC and
their families. It was during such meetings that existing care groups were identified and OVC were
defined. The target group for these meetings were all members of the community, including:- Local council members
- OVC guardians
- Members of churches and other FBOs
- Opinion leaders
- Development and other committees existing in the community
- School teachers (both primary and secondary)
- Healthcare workers
- CBOs.
The agenda of the community meetings included:- Definition of OVC (categories of OVC as understood by the community)
- Relation of OVC and HIV/AIDS
- On-going initiatives and the groups and institutions involved in providing care to the
OVC in the community - Challenges faced in the work of providing effective care to OVC
- Possible strategies and plans to overcome some of the challenges faced by the
community in the care of OVC.
These meetings concentrated on identifiying any on-going OVC interventions being carried out
by people or groups at community level. All institutions that had any on-going interventions for
OVC at village or parish level were designated as community care groups. Hence, community care
groups were identified as churches, schools, mosques, CBOs, LCs and development committees.
For example, Nakaseeta Parish in Kasangombe ADP has a total of 20 community care groups.The ADP staff worked with local council leaders at village level, particularly officials responsible
for children’s affairs, to invite members of the community to the meetings. The leaders and
ADP staff agreed on the schedules, venues and times for the meetings convenient for both
men and women.Case Study
(^8) Unit 1, Module 1 Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children