To investigate factors preventing the care-givers from accessing the social grants and other benefits entitled to the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) under their care
Tshikongo, Aktofel Ndetshipanda (2013-03)
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One of the consequences of HIV/AIDS is the large number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Most OVC care givers in African communities are elders. The elders use their meagre pension hand out to support their OVC grandchildren. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Well Fare (MGECW) has responded to the financial burden of the OVC care-givers by issuing different social grants to the OVC. Due to preventing factors not all OVC are receiving these grants.
The Namibian Government has formulated different policies protecting the rights of OVC. However, not all stakeholders are implementing these policies which lead to the OVC`s rights being compromised. This study was conducted in Omusati Region in Namibia to determine the factors that prevent some of the OVC care-givers from accessing the social grants and other benefits entitled to the OVC under their care. Data for this study have been obtained from four sources, using four different data collection methods. In depth interview have been used to collect data from twelve Community Childcare Workers (CCW) in the (MGECW) administering the OVC`s grants applications at twelve Constituencies. Some information was obtained using structured questionnaire from twenty four teachers dealing with OVC at twelve schools in twelve Constituencies. The officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration (MHAI) have been engaged in focus group discussion to provide valuable information to this study. Literature has also been reviewed to shed more light on the subject under investigation. This study discovered that there are various impediments preventing the care-givers from obtain the OVC social grants. Lack of documents, transport costs and long distances coupled with cumbersome process of processing grants applications and issuing national documents are among the preventing factors. This project has been concluded with recommendations which if implemented will smoothen the process of grants accessibility.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Een van die gevolge van MIV/Vigs is die groot aantal weeskinders en kwesbare kinders (OVC). OVC sorg gewers in Afrika-gemeenskappe is die ouderlinge. Die oudstes gebruik hul karige pensioen hand uit hul OVC kleinkinders te ondersteun. Die Ministerie van Geslagsgelykheid en Kinderwelsyn Wel Fare (MGECW) het gereageer op die finansiële las van die OVC versorgers deur die uitreiking van verskillende maatskaplike toelaes aan die OVC. As gevolg van die voorkoming van faktore nie alle OVC hierdie toekennings ontvang. Die Namibiese regering het verskillende beleide wat die beskerming van die regte van die OVC geformuleer. Egter nie alle belanghebbendes die implementering van hierdie beleid wat lei tot die OVC se regte word gekompromitteer. Hierdie studie is uitgevoer in die Omusati-streek in Namibië om die faktore wat verhoed dat sommige van die OVC versorgers van toegang tot die maatskaplike toelaes en ander voordele geregtig op die OVC onder hul sorg te bepaal. Data vir hierdie studie is verkry uit vier bronne, deur gebruik te maak van vier verskillende data-insamelingsmetodes. In diepte onderhoud is gebruik om data van twaalf Gemeenskap Kindersorg Werkers (CCW) te versamel in die (MGECW) die administrasie van die OVC se toelaes aansoeke op twaalf Kiesafdelings. Sommige inligting is verkry met behulp van gestruktureerde vraelys uit 24 onderwysers die hantering van OVC by twaalf skole in twaalf Kiesafdelings. Die amptenare van die Ministerie van Binnelandse Sake en Immigrasie (MHAI) is besig met die fokusgroepbespreking om waardevolle inligting te verskaf aan hierdie studie. Literatuur is ook hersien om meer lig te werp op die onderwerp wat ondersoek word. Hierdie studie het ontdek dat daar verskeie struikelblokke wat verhoed dat die versorgers van die OVC maatskaplike toelaes te verkry. Gebrek van dokumente, vervoerkoste en lang afstande, tesame met 'n omslagtige proses van die verwerking van toelaes aansoeke en die uitreiking van nasionale dokumente is onder die voorkoming van faktore. Hierdie projek is afgesluit met aanbevelings wat, indien dit geïmplementeer word, die toegang to toelaes sal verbeter.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/79963