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Issue 00435 |
September 9 - 15, 2006 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Features |
| Work In Progress… By Sarah Tennant The work of LOHADA is more than just looking after our children at both Camp Moses and Camp Joshua, it extends to working with their families also. I am currently a volunteer with LOHADA and have been asked to commence work on LOHADA’s Family Rehabilitation Programme. Our aim is to support and help our childrens’ families improve their own lives, in order that they may provide a better home environment for their children once they return to them full-time. This is a tall order, as many of our families are affected by long-term problems such has alcohol abuse and illness and many face unemployment and lack of income. However, we have to start somewhere… To start the Programme off, we invited all parents/guardians to a meeting at Camp Joshua, Unga Ltd. The parents were addressed by LOHADA’s Executive Director, who explained that we were here to work with them but in order for us to do that effectively and efficiently, we need their co-operation. Each parent was offered the opportunity to speak in confidence to a full-time member of LOHADA’s staff. Details of current employment status and income were given, plus a history of education and previous employment. With this information, myself and LOHADA’s Camp Manager were able to assess who would be eligible for various types of work. We have recently spent several days visiting various industries in Arusha, enquiring about the job opportunities that might be available to these families. The responses have been very positive and reassuring and we are uplifted by this. Our next step is to work with the parents on compiling applications and CVs. I sincerely hope that we will be able to successfully place these individuals in employment, as it will be a start in helping them to improve their own lives. They will be able to provide food and clothes for their children; they may gain a sense of self-worth and a higher self-esteem and they will be good role models for their children by showing them what can be achieved by earning an honest living. There is, in a way, no point the children being at LOHADA if they are to return to their homes where the situation is either the same or, indeed, worse than when they left. It may create more problems, as the children will have experienced a better life at LOHADA and may not wish to stay with their families. It may in fact make them even more frustrated and unhappy than they were before. It is a difficult one, because LOHADA can only be effective in the long-term if the families of these children want to and do make changes to their own lives. LOHADA is, after all, only a temporary haven for these children. This week, on Saturday 9th September, we are holding a Parents Day at Camp Moses, Moshono. This event is to give the families of our children not only an opportunity to visit them, but also to see how they have developed since their time with us at LOHADA. There will also be a chance to interact with the children in lessons and creative activities. We sincerely hope that the families will come and make the most of this unique time. It is important for the children to know that their families do care and are taking an active interest in them. In addition to this, it will hopefully help to build the relationship between LOHADA staff and the families. We do, after all, have to work together for the benefit of these children, as they are the most important thing. We are here to be responsible role models and to give these children hope for their futures. LOHADA, Loving Hand for the Disadvantaged and Aged, is a Tanzanian non-governmental organization serving children and aged persons in Arusha and Shinyanga regions. For more information please email: info@lohada.org or visit our website: www.lohada.org
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Webmaster: WDJMallya |
