WORKING ON VULNERABLE CHILDREN WITH DE LA SALLE REPRODUCTIVE

HEALTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

ARSI UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK

SCHOOL OF HUMANITY AND LAW

Partial Fulfillment of MSW Program; Field Practice report

BY: FIKADU TAFESSE ID NO 055/08

Feb.22/2016
Adama
Ethiopia
Contents
` 1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................1
2. Profile of the organization...........................................................................................................2
2.1. Vision:...................................................................................................................................2
2.2. Goals:....................................................................................................................................2
2.3. Mission:.................................................................................................................................2
2.4. Objectives..............................................................................................................................2
2.5. The specific objectives include the following.......................................................................2
2.6. Organizational structure of the association...........................................................................3
2.6.1. Major activities of the units of the association general Assembly.................................3
2.6.2. Governing Board............................................................................................................4
2.6.3 Management unit.............................................................................................................4
2.6.4. Executive Director..........................................................................................................4
3. Objective for the field work and activities practiced...................................................................5
4. Comment concerning the association..........................................................................................7
5. Lesson learnt from field practice.................................................................................................7
6. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................8
1. Introduction
As any society living in under developed countries, most Ethiopian societies were exposed to
under development poverty, illiteracy, diseases. The reduction or elimination these factors ensure
the coming of prosperity.

De La Salle Reproductive Health and Development Association started to act against those
factors to contribute a bit to change the situation. It has begun working as a club after its
establishment in 2004. It was a time when millions of people were combating against the threat
of HIV/AIDS. Thousands remain homeless due to this disease, thousands of children remain
without parents, and many old aged people were abandoned on streets b/c their children passed
away and remained patient. This was the situation that leads to the birth of this association.

The association took the name De La Salle from a very well known French catholic priest and
teacher who were extremely humanitarian in his acts. He lived around 360 years ago. This name
was known by one of the founder of this association at the beginning so the founders favored to
take this name to their association.

As a trainee, I was observed the service provided by the association and participated in
different interventions. Specifically for 45 days I was participated to care and support for
children (health service, schooling and school materials) as well as facilitate income generation
mechanisms for orphan.

At the end of field practice I was obtain the skill and knowledge that help me for orphan
problem solving interventions. In other way I was understand the magnitude of orphan
problem in Adama city and the significance to help them. In different activity of the
association I was acquired the way to communicate with different clients and stake
holders.

.
2. Profile of the organization
De La Salle Reproductive Health and Development Association is nongovernmental organization
started to act against those factors to contribute a bit to change the situation. It aims to form a
club of Volunteers to help aged people, teach Orphaned children and create awareness among the
community of Adama town. It was founded in Adama city kebele 10.

2.1. Vision:
De la salle wants to see vulnerable children, youth and aged people to having solved their socio –
economic problems as well as remaining free of HIV/AIDS with higher standard of reproductive
health knowledge.

2.2. Goals:
The overall goal of DRHDA is to promote good youth development and enable to have good
knowledge about reproductive health, reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and alleviate the impact of
the pandemic on youth through community empowerment to create a self helping and supporting
community of aged people in their economic status.

2.3. Mission:
DRHDA mainly operates in the interest of the people working with, it gives educational support
to orphans fosters income generation by elders, disseminates reproductive health education
through available mechanisms, discusses with the community how to assist orphans and
vulnerable children , monitors , informs the public and policy makers on the challenges and
problems of the poorest society.

2.4. Objectives
The general objective of De la salle Reproductive Health and development association is to
implement community based (children youth and elders) projects and programs to attain the goal
and mission of the association the specific objectives.

2.5. The specific objectives include the following

 To provide care and support for orphans(health service, schooling and school
materials)
 To facilitate income generation mechanisms for orphan and people living
with HIV/ AIDS
 To strengthen the anti AIDS club in its internal capacity,
  To mobilize the whole community to assist orphan and vulnerable children.
 To provide reproductive health education to children aging from 14-20, with
health professionals.
 To promote broader partnership and linkage among all stakeholders.

2.6. Organizational structure of the association

Organizational structure of De La Salle R.H.D.A

General Assembly

External Auditor

Management Board

Executive Director

Program Manager e
M&E Officer Finance &Administration

Project Coordinator Accounta Cashier

nts

source: Dela salle reproductive health association organizational profile (June 1, 2014)

2.6.1. Major activities of the units of the association general Assembly

 It directs the association and sets policies
 Elects the members of the Governing board
 It evaluates and appraises the performance of the association
 It will appoint the audit committee of the association
 It draws and reviews the regulation of the association
 It will decide on matters and issues that are beyond the mandate of the executive council
 2.6.2. Governing Board
 Formulate implement evaluate and review the polices of the association
 To gather with the management team review and change the strategies of the association
 Networks with other local and international organizations to help management to obtain
resources
 Encourage management to create partnerships with government and non government
institution.
 Approves major objects p and programs pad priorities in developmental activities
 Examines and approves plans on income generation schemes
 Examines the performance of the association and provide general guidance to the
management.
 Evaluates the performance of the executive officer regularly.

2.6.3 Management unit

 Leads and execute the day to day performance
 Reports all performance to the governing board
 Organizes gives guidance activates to the staff
 Checks the balance of finance flow
 Select problems encountered gives immediate solution.
 Undergo regular meeting and review activities.

2.6.4. Executive Director

The executive director is fully accountable to the management beard. The major duties and
responsibilities of the director are the following.

 Create partnerships with government and non- government institution at different levels
 Make sure that projects and programs of the office are based on community needs and
priorities.
 Mobilize and encourage communities to participate in project design and implementation
exercise.
 Establish guidelines and procedures for day to day operation of the office.
 Encourage and support the goals of the association.
  Evaluate the performances of department periodically.
 Prepare and present the yearly performance of the association to the appropriate bodies.

3. Objective for the field work and activities practiced

As students of social worker the aim of field practice is to make develop the skill of working
with different organizations to help the needy group. The association was founded by a few
youngsters of the time came together to form a club of Volunteers to help aged people, teach
Orphaned children and create awareness among the community of Adama town. But gradually
they became stronger and stronger so that these Volunteers extended their Voluntary action to
the neighboring towns like Wonji, Welenchiti, Modjo and Debrezeit. After few year of
humanitarian service, the club changed itself in to association. Clearly putting activities to do,
objectives and services.

The associations provide care and support for orphans (health service, schooling and school
materials), facilitate income generation mechanisms for orphan and people living with
HIV/ALDS, strengthen the anti AIDS club in its internal capacity, mobilize the whole
community to assist orphan and vulnerable children, provide reproductive health education to
children aging from 14-20, with health professionals and Promote broader partnership and
linkage among all stakeholders.

This center is fully working with the orphans and vulnerable children. Most of them are at the
early age, some lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS, and some do have very poor family who
can’t support themselves. So the following has been done at this center:

Medication:- as they are most vulnerable to many harming factors the association helped the in
getting care centers as the association works in collaboration trouble with their health they could
be treated .

Clothing: - most of the children do not have access to clothing including school uniforms. To
alleviate this problem we collected clothes from different schools who can offer their reserve
clothes.
Educational and psychological support: - the center has about 500 students or children in
following education and psychological support. The education is given from nursery to grade
four. These children sometimes get psychological support.

Celebrities, entertainments and vacations: - the children do have many problems in relation to
their family and economic background, so they need refreshment or entertaining at the end of
school closing and in occasional days. There were also educational tours or vacations that
strengthen them in getting knowledge which is undiscovered by them. Be yond this effect of
these activities could help them to be free from depression and the feeling of ember assent.

The practice aimed to acquire and develop the skill and knowledge how the association
identify the needy group and facilitate the intervention mechanism.

During field practice I was observed the service provided by the association and participated
in different interventions. For the purpose of this practice I was selected from area of
association’s activity, care and support for children (health service, schooling and school
materials) as well as facilitate income generation mechanisms for children.

During field practice I was participate when the associations prepare the intervention
mechanism to facilitate the way of helping the children. Before interventions the
associations conducted community assessments which focused on the problems of children.
Specifically the assessment was focused to health service, schooling and lack of school
materials.

The intervention plan was mainly aimed to facilitate income generation mechanisms for
children and improve their health condition. After the assessment conducted the problem of
children were prioritized and intervention plan were prepared accordingly.

During planning the interventions strength based approach were favored and planed based
on the children’s family material and non materials assets. There for empowering the
family to use their resources and skills properly to improve their economic conditions and
solve their financial problems that affect their children’s well being negatively.

The intervention plan not only limited to the help and empowerment of the family. There
for it comprise the participations of different governmental and nongovernmental
organizations as well as different individuals collaborative works. Accordingly Adama city
Administration office, women and children office as well as other nongovernmental
organizations and individual were stake holders.

The interventions include different activities of social workers. Thus are family counseling,
providing training, financial helping and linking the needy group with different organizations
and institutions. There for in this term (in 45 day) for 37 children parent, child care training was
provided. Two family were linked to financial helping institution to facilitate the school
conditions of the children. From the above family of disadvantaged children 7 parents
were provided counseling service to improve their attitude toward children care and
rights. They are reside on the street and their Childs used as income sources.

4. Comment concerning the association

De La Salle Reproductive Health and Development Association was founded at 2004 , but the
association was not work with media as much as needed to publicize its righteous
objectives to strengthen its financial capacity. There for if frequently publicize its objectives.

The association has broad scope and domain of activity. The man power of the association
were not ample to do so. There for it affect the efficiency of the association’s activity
negatively. Because having a number of professional human power is recommendable.

Most associations activity were accomplished by the volunteer workers in different

branch. due to this the planed activity were most of the time not sustainably
accomplished. It was staked when the volunteer members leave the associations. so if the
associations have a number of regular members who will accomplish the objectives of the
association sustainably.

5. Lesson learnt from field practice

 I acquired the skill and knowledge that how to communicate with different
organizations.
 I was learn the way and mechanisms to plan for helping the needy group.
 I was acquired the skill of community assessment and prioritizing the need of
community.
 I was get the skill of intervention plan and how to prioritize the need of the
community.
 I was getting the knowledge to provide care and support for orphans (health service,
schooling and school materials).
 I was acquired the skill of how to facilitate income generation mechanisms for needy group.
 Get the skill of promote broader partnership and linkage among a different stake holders
stakeholders.
 I was learnt that how to provide counseling the needy children family for
empowering them to solve their economic and health related problem.

6. Conclusion
De La Salle Reproductive Health and Development Association is nongovernmental organization
started to act against those factors to contribute a bit to change the situation. The associations
provide care and support for orphans (health service, schooling and school materials), facilitate
income generation mechanisms for orphan and people living with HIV/ALDS, strengthen the
anti ALDS club in its internal capacity, mobilize the whole community to assist orphan and
vulnerable children, provide reproductive health education to children aging from 14-20, with
health professionals and Promote broader partnership and linkage among all stakeholders.

I was select this associations for practicing on different activity of the association. As a
trainee, I was observed the service provided by the association and participated in different
interventions. Specifically for 45 days I was participated to care and support for children (health
service, schooling and school materials) as well as facilitate income generation mechanisms for
orphan. I was participate when the associations prepare the intervention mechanism to
facilitate the way of helping the children and also during intervention activity including
providing different help and counseling.

From the field practice I was learnt a lot of social workers skill and knowledge including
how to communicate with different organizations, the skill of community assessment and
prioritizing the need of community, the skill of intervention plan and how to prioritize
the need of the community, the knowledge to provide care and support for children and how
to counseling the needy group to improve their life condition.
 Reference

Dela salle reproductive health association organizational profile (June 1, 2014)

DEDE