Community Partnership
Through the Every Child is Our Child program, all Unitarians and Universalists can help turn UU principles into action by fostering the hopes and dreams of children who have suffered from the devastating consequences of HIV/AIDS.Every Child is Our Child is a UU-UNO program established to provide education for AIDS orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in Eastern Ghana. The program has been designed by professionals with significant experience in African community development, and works in partnership with a traditional community organization, the Queen Mothers Association. The Queen Mothers play a vital role in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the district. They have established various programs to prevent the spread of the disease. These include counseling, feeding, clothing and some vocational training for AIDS orphans. Through Every Child is Our Child, the Queen Mothers are also currently enrolling the children and their foster families in the National Insurance Plan.
Donations are transferred through the Ghana Organization for Volunteer Assistance (GOVA) directly to the schools. Transferring the money directly to the schools is the best way to be assured that it benefits the children. Currently, there are three schools participating and it is likely we will be expanding the program to more schools in the future.
Program Design, Accountability and Responsibilities
The Queen Mothers Association: this organization places children with their own or local families, and provides basic shelter and food with the help of other respected private and public alliances.
Local/Community Advisory Committee: To select children for school enrollment. The Committee is made up of 2 Queen Mothers, District Assembly Social Worker, School Representative, and Community Leader selected by the UU-UNO. We have selected a local doctor specializes in taking care of vulnerable children.
Program Administrator: To assist with financial monitoring and program administration. The program Administrator is Emmanuel Matteh.
Program Monitor: A third party with experience in Health Agencies and AIDS programs in Ghana who will track the children at home and school. Reports will be given to the Queen Mothers Association and the UU-UNO. the Program Monitor is Joseph Kingham Ochil.
The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office: to raise enough funds to support the AIDS Orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in the Manya Krobo district of Eastern Ghana through their elementary and junior secondary (approximately 10 years of basic education) as well as provide family health insurance.
The Every Child is Our Child Program resulted from meeting directly with the Queen Mothers, through which the UU-UNO learned about their community issues, and had joint planning sessions to prioritize their requirements.
