LIVE CHILD LIVE. STRATEGIC PLAN OF ACTION 2017-2019
In the near future we intend to embark on a number of activities in The Gambia. In line with the aims and objectives of Live Child Live organization which included the following;
* To ensure the holistic development of children in The Gambia with a focus on the marginalized and vulnerable.
* To provide children beneficiaries the opportunity to attain basic education in line with MDG 2
* To complement government’s efforts in providing quality nutrition at no cost to needy children
* To provide skills training opportunities to needy children in undeserved communities
* To facilitate the sustainable energy through the provision of solar power.
The following thematic areas will be core in our operations. Our activities will focus on;
The Operational Process In order for us to get our target children out of the lot, even though majority of the children come from very poor families, we will carry out the following to enable us get the neediest;
Sensitization – this is aimed raising awareness about our project and the importance of education as part of child right or child care. The public education will target parents and local authorities to get their support and help change attitudes towards children and their education or general well being.
Community screening – going round the various communities to see the needy and deserving people are and to make sure they receive support at the right time.
Identification / Registration – After the screening, we will be able to know exactly how many beneficiaries there are and their respective locations. They will be registered as official beneficiaries of Live Child Live and that they will make proper use of any material or resources given to them.
Needs assessment – First of all it prudent to establish their various needs so as to plan our intervention. Once it is established that they need support in certain areas, a specific needs assessment will be carried to know exactly what form of support /intervention will be appropriate.
Plan of intervention – Once we know what they need, we will plan our mode of service delivery in line with what we can do and represents value for money. It will take into consideration individual differences.
Service delivery – A time frame will be used as a guide for our service provision as it will not be wise to continue providing services unending. In the same vein we will endeavor not to withdraw support prematurely which is likely to cause more harm than good.
Reviews /Follow ups – A register will be maintained for all services we provide. Follow up visits will be made to see whether the materials supplied are actually used for the intended purposes. A review meeting will also be done on individual basis to see whether our intervention is making any positive impact to change their lives thereby giving them for the future.
In terms of the aforementioned core areas, the following will be carried out;
Education - is a fundamental right for everyone and key to the future of any country. Education has its price everywhere but inadequate education produces high costs for society in terms of public spending, crime, health, and economic growth. No country can afford to leave too many of its children behind and not help them achieve the competence needed for a self-fulfilled life in economic independence.
This being the case we intend to focus on supporting 100 school going children in ten (10) communities at basic/primary level of education. The support will be in the form of uniforms, books (text books & note/exercise books), shoes, school bag etc. This will help in the enrollment and retention of children in schools.
Family Strengthening & Livelihood Support Program – The Gambia has extended family system and it is therefore common to see a couple taking care of their aunties, uncles, nieces, cousins, grandparents/children etc. This puts extra burden on majority of households. The Family Strengthening & Livelihood Support program is necessary for the children to be in school at all times during the school year. Many children are withdrawn from school by their parents/guardians so that they help in the farm or sell at shops or in the streets to generate income for the whole family. The support that will be given to parents/guardians for these children will cover supplementary feeding, providing farming implements, mosquito nets, animals for rearing which can be used on the farm or sold to pay school fees. It will help maintain peace in many homes which by extension will help in the psychological and emotional development or stability of many children.
Renewable Energy - The Gambia has about six (6) months of dry season with sunshine adequately available on a daily basis. The temperatures range between 22 and 44 degrees. Electricity supply is not adequate or reliable and with the supply not covering all homes, it will yield results if we provide renewable energy in the form of solar to the beneficiaries in the communities we intend to serve. This will safe them the trouble paying high cost of electricity bills or risking candle fires especially with children. Many of the recent fires reported in the daily newspapers were claimed to have been due to candle light. A case in point is the recent calamities; instances 4 children were burnt to death in 2014 while a young mother and her 3 year old daughter lost their precious lives in fire about three months ago. It will be more viable and sustainable to provide solar panels with battery and bulbs to the deprived communities. This will allow those pupils to study at night which has a direct relationship with their performance. While academic excellence correlates with gainful employment, the latter also correlates with a brighter future with a better pay and achievement.
Employable skills – The ultimate aim of our organization is the holistic development of all children in the Gambia. Our emphasis will be on those who need our support most notwithstanding their locations in the country. A deliberate effort will be made to identify children with disabilities and orphans who mostly form part of those in need. Apart from education, we will support them in learning trades that will offer them gainful employment to better their lives.
It is our hope that by the end of December 2016,
100 children will be going to schools freely
100 families would have been supported – free from tensions leading unnecessary divorces and broken homes.
200 parents /guardians (fathers & mothers) supporting children/wards in their social-economic development
200 more pupils supported by their parents/guardians to go school or maintained in school
100 homes having access to solar lighting systems where pupils can study
500 persons (including parents & siblings of the children) in 100 homes and another 100 neighboring homes will be safe from electrical fire or fire resulting from candle.
It is crucial to mention that all these good intentions will be turned in to realities if we have the much needed resources including funds to carry out these and other activities. Once we don’t have the money to implement the activities, many children will continue to suffer as the efforts are not enough. We have people to work the necessary logistics and manage the projects. We implore anyone who is willing to support to put any amount or item as they will be very useful during the course of our operations.
