Orphan Affairs Unit (O.A.U)

Our first Orphan Affairs Unit (O.A.U) was established in 2001. The group, aged between 10 and 20 yrs and headed by a president and vice president voted for by the group members, meet on a regular basis to discuss and formulate plans to address the problems and issues faced by young people living within their communities.

Although initially comprising a single group based at Kalolo (central-west Malawi), we now have a network of over 20 OAU's across southern Malawi sharing ideas and working together to support and encourage each other. Meeting weekly, the groups are forging strong voices for themselves within their communities and providing important channels for dialogue and social change.

OBJECTIVES:

• To ensure that the rights of orphans and other vulnerable children are protected, their basic needs met and opportunities created for them to reach their fullest potential
• To assist in dealing with problems faced by orphans on daily basis.
• To assist elderly guardians caring for orphans and other vulnerable children through the provision of basics such as food, clothing and blankets as well as assisting with housing maintenance and argicultural work
• To encourage and support orphans and other vulnerable children in their pursuit of education.
• To participate in the development, organisation and implementation of strategies to assist orphans and other vulnerable children
• To develop fundraising activities to support the work of the OAU
• To identify orphans and other vulnerable children in need of assistance.
• To conduct awareness campaigns within communities on the support and care for orphans and HIV/AIDS prevention.
• To provide social support for one another.

The achievements of the O.A.U groups since 2001 have been enormous. Not only have they made major contributions to the development of their own communities, through fundraising activities, educational campaigns and construction projects, they have also begun to play an important role in the national and international development of support strategies for young people affected by HIV/AIDS.

In 2001, our first OAU president Hawa Majola was selected to represent the group at a Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa, while our first OAU vice president Timothy Dawa was elected to join the Malawi Children’s Parliament. In addition to this, in 2002 OAU Secretary Yembekezani Misiyasi was invited to address a Southern African Editors’ Conference (SAEF) on the problems faced by orphans and other vulnerable children and on the importance of children's participation in addressing and finding solutions to the problems they face.

Significantly, in 2004 the O.A.U at Kalolo participated in the government assessment that led to the development of the current National Plan of Action for orphans and other vulnerable children in Malawi. They have also taken part in meetings with UNICEF (Malawi) and the Stephen Lewis Foundation to discuss issues affecting orphans and those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

In addition to this, since 2003, the O.A.U concept developed by Consol Homes has, with assistance from UNICEF, REPSSI (Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative, Malawi) and Hope HIV (UK), been adopted in a number of other countries including Uganda and Zambia.