Widows and Grannies Group

Recognizing the involvement of parents and guardians in Consol Homes' programmes for support of orphans and other vulnerable children to be fundamental to their long-term success, we established our first Widows and Grannies group at Kalolo in 2001.

Initially a group of 13 guardians, membership has now grown to over 500 women at 26 centres throughout the Lilongwe and Ntcheu districts

OBJECTIVES:

• To assist parents and guardians in developing their problem solving and parenting skills.
• To conduct problem solving sessions through group discussions.
• To improve psychosocial care and support for both guardians and the orphans and other vulnerable children in their care
• To assist one another in knowledge sharing on income generation mechanisms
• To provide an opportunity for socialising in a relaxed environment away from the pressures of home life.

Since 2001, we have trained over 80 elderly and widowed parents and guardians as community advisors on the psychosocial care and support of those suffering bereavements. In addition to this, as a result of access to training in food and nutrition, early detection of malnourishment in children in the care of guardians has significantly improved, as has the number of referrals to Nutrition Rehabilitation Units (NRUs). Furthermore, access to training in income generation has enabled many parents and guardians to make greater financial contributions towards school fees for the children in their care, and as a result over 400 children who had dropped out of school have been able to return to classes.