Update: November 2007
Overview: The month of October has seen the initiation of services to Home Based Care clients and the startup of the 2008 school uniform manufacturing by local tailors. The activities related to the 2007 education program are coming to an end and students are now in the process of preparing for their examinations. The maize meal distribution continues as scheduled and the micro loan expansion program is advancing through the design phase for 2008.
Home Based Care Activities: The Home Based Care Program was initiated in this month. Twenty of the former Care Providers were given 3 days of refresher training in counseling and care for HIV+ clients. The Care Provider’s role varies depending on the client. Some of the services that they provide include, weekly home visits, basic first aid, pickup and delivery of prescriptions and food rations, and referrals to the local clinic or hospital.
Education Program: All distributions related to the education program is complete. The schools are now in their last month of teaching and students in grade 7, 9 and 12 are all in the process of writing their qualifying examinations. One alteration to the 2008 education program is the manufacturing of school uniforms using local tailors as opposed to purchasing uniforms from outside the area. This change was adopted in an attempt put more cash into the Samfya economy. At this time, only the grades 1-7 uniforms are being made locally. If it is found that the tailors can meet a high quality standard, then the tailoring program will be expanded to all grades in 2009.
Micro Loan Program: The design phase of the Micro Loan Expansion Program is coming to a close. During the last week of October, The Board and Bright Hope team sat down to develop the basic structure of the 2008 Loan program. In the second week of November, All Church partners will sit down to a 3 day planning workshop during which the details of this Church run loan program will be developed. By the end of November, an implementation manual for a church run program will have been developed.
