1. Service Delivery
a. Home-based care
This programme plays a critical role in households that are highly vulnerable to the multiple impacts of the illness or deaths of household members. Caregivers visit households to provide care and support to patients who are sick. In addition, caregivers also educate family members on caring for sick family members. Many households also depend on food parcels as nutrition is important for the survival of the patients.
b. Support Groups
Our support groups play a vital role in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. The support groups are not only a space for psycho-social social from other members of the community who face similar issues, it also contributes towards increasing the knowledge of support groups members about HIV, AIDS and other communicable disease. Clients for the support group are referred by the home-based Caregivers. This programme provides a platform for clients to talk about issues they face on a daily basis and empower each other and also support each other mentally and emotionally. This programme develops and promotes a better living standard for people living with HIV and AIDS. Sessions include one-on-one sessions (counseling), and educational talks on self-esteem, positive living, economic empowerment etc.
c. Orphan care
This is a vital programme as many orphans really have nowhere to go. Let Us Grow recognizes that by intervening through protection, support and education of orphans, it will play a critical role in growing the community for the future. Part of the support provided school uniforms, medication, school fees, food parcels and transport to clinics where necessary.
2. Education and Awareness
The main aim of this programme is to provide education and training through workshops, counseling and educational sessions, particularly for young people to empower them with information and knowledge for them to live their lives in a positive manner. The organisation’s primary youth development programme Grow Bacha addresses youth leadership, gender-based violence, life skills as well as HIV literacy. In addition, Let Us Grow also provides education to other organizations on key areas such as home-based care, support groups and all its other work over the years.
a. Grow Bacha (Youth Programme)
The organisation’s primary youth development programme Grow Bacha addresses youth leadership, gender-based violence, life skills as well as HIV literacy. This programme educates and empowers young people to make a positive choice and have a positive lifestyle. To reach young people, we conduct educational sessions such like talk shows, workshops, one on one sessions, street campaigns, information distribution-condoms and educational materials, and debates. Our outreach for the programme is done by young people themselves who have been trained as Peer Educators.
b. Gender-Based Violence and Human Rights:
The gender based violence and human rights programme was initiated in response to the lack of awareness of gender-based violence and the many incidents of abuse of children and violence against women in the community. The main aim of Let Us Grow’s work in this programme was to increase knowledge and awareness of human rights, empower women on gender-based violence and to counter child abuse. The programme also focused on educating men as research has shown that most of the violence in the household is perpetrated by men. We have conducted workshops, training sessions and awareness campaigns around these issues, to both women and men.
c. Men’s Calabash Project
Our work in this programme focused specifically on educating men and boys about the prevention of HIV and AID, and ultimately behavior change as it relates to gender-based violence (particularly violence against women and child abuse). The programme also included providing support to men through workshops, training and mobilizing men and boys by running open focus group sessions.
3. Poverty Alleviation Work
As part of the organisation’s commitment to address poverty, and to generate a sustainable organizational income base, this is a key area of the organisation’s work from 2012. Our key focus areas in this regard will be:
- Food gardening
- Chicken abattoirs
- Beadwork, sewing and breading
