Background

Sub-Saharan Africa
48 million children 0-8 years and 12 % are orphans .We anticipate 53 million by 2010. (UNICEF 2006a)In Addis Ababa there are 5 million orphaned children and 33% resultant of HIV.

Every 30 seconds a child in Africa loses a parent and 26 % experience a parent’s death before age of 5 years (UNICEF).

There is a great need for support of Children vulnerable by HIV/AIDS, including those in poverty, living with sick parents and orphaned in many cases.

These children are often invincible to care providers and programmes which focus on medicines, finance and later school years despite many good studies supporting the enormous benefits of Early childhood education.

Children are least resilient and have greatest need for physical care and emotional support nurturing (Unicef)

The age at which they were orphaned has important implications

Deterioration in quality of life and extreme poverty deprives children of their basic needs.

There are few EC programmes and policies specific to meet needs of these children

These children are small can be seen a burden an extra mouth to feed as they cant earn an income for the family .The care givers can be too sick or lack skills required to educate or support psychological educational nutritional needs.

They often don’t understand why death has occurred and can feel they are to blame.

They have unlimited potential to have positive inputs that will negate a lot of negative consequences in later adult years.

They are the voice of the future.

There are studies that support ECD as the most effective strategy for human capital development (Heckman 2006)

We know poverty can cause stunting, anemia ,iodine deficiency and expose children to risks infection violence

Refers to establishment of sesorimotor, cognitive skills emotional functioning .The development is significantly affected by diet and by nutrition .The -0-8 is the most critical time with rapid growth and neurodevelopment Risk and opportunity for change are largest.

To start at early ages we have greater chance to help them with basics Children with HIV often have neurodevelopment delays.

(stein 2005)

a good ECD programme needs to have:

• Education for the children
• providing access to basic education, health care needs access and quality health care
• Provide psychological support  age appropriate counseling counsel re death
  (Kenya used to wait on side of road for parent to return what we say depends on age 0 deletes.
• Provide legal protection
• Immunizations treatment of disease
• Providing nutritional food supplements, clothing provisions for the strengthening of families and communities.
• Provide education parenting skills for carers and support home visits.
• support carers own well being help bond with children
• support income generating activities
• Provide food schooling to children
  

What we have found ECE

Great lack in countries incorporating development, psychosocial aspects into programmes and is health focused (despite recommendations Foster 2005 rickheter 2005 WHO)

Community based childcare centers can serve the purpose of supporting families by food services supplies ,care of children ,source of protection for girls.

They have very low funding

They give tremendous joy to children.

Assumptions have been that if we give finance to families in measure of handouts the benefits will go to children but of course doesn’t happen and handouts don’t help.

We want to give hope and education that enables sustainability.