Receive greetings from Our Lady of Perpetual Support For People Living with AIDS and Orphans OLPS. We are indeed glad to have you visiting our website. At OLPS we find pride in making simple miracles possible on the basis of providing hope for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS pandemic. Read more
To effectively deliver health programs that respond to the needs of members of our community, OLPS emphasizes on integrated approach to health programming. Our health services are both facility and community-based. We run a community dispensary, mobilize resources and partner with like-minded organizations to make healthcare affordable to members of our community. As much as our health services are modeled within the context of HIV and AIDS, we also reach out to other members of the community with general healthcare needs Read more
HIV Care and Treatment (targeting children, adolescents and adults); Community TB Prevention and treatment; Maternal Child Health services; Reproductive Health Services; HIV Testing Services. None of these if offered in isolation. Our integrated approach ensures that we address as many needs as possible for any person coming into contact with any of health service provider.
OLPS covers the spectrum of services for anyone affected by HIV/AIDS. In this context, we work to empower individuals to be self reliant and live a dignified life. Our aim is to ensure that we support households in such a manner that they will be able to provide for their basic needs such as education for their children, healthcare, housing, food and nutrition among others. The ultimate goal is to create resilient households able to withstand crisis, recover from them and adapt so that they can better withstand them.
OLPS uses a microfinance model to loan out small amounts of money ranging from Kshs. 10,000.00 to Kshs 15,000.00 to women for business startups and business expansion. Training and mentorship is key to the success of the businesses. Priority is given to women because of their proven ability to manage their businesses and repay their loans promptly. A total of 150 women are currently supported by this program. Read more
On a 4ha piece of land, OLPS is implementing a Community Farmers’ Education Program and targets local farmers with low input farming technologies. OLPS primarily promotes food security for women & children affected by HIV/AIDS and focuses on creating healthy and nutritional gardens and keeping livestock e.g. chickens to boost family income. These women were facilitated to form groups for peer-to-peer mentorship Read more
Kenya has an estimated 2.4 million orphans and vulnerable children, about 50% of whom are orphaned due to the HIV/AIDS. Regions with high HIV burden (like Kisumu where OLPS majorly operates) therefore account for a higher percentage of OVC. Because of lack of proper care and protection, these children experience many forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation, a situation which undermines their ability to develop into productive and responsible adults. OLPS implements a comprehensive OVC program that ensures this doesn’t happen. Read more
We implement a two-pronged approach to addressing the plight of OVC i.e. community-based and institutionalized care at OLPS Children’s Rescue Center. Priority is given to community-based care strategy but in situations where there is need for extreme care and protection, OLPS admits carefully selected OVC into its Rescue Center for a 1 to 3 year transitional care and support. During this period, a responsible adult/relative is sought and prevailed upon to offer support to such a child as his/her own once the child leaves the center.
Enabling access to safe clean water and sanitation facilities is one of the strategies identified by the community in improving their health standards of the community Read more
Description � Read more
OLPS Rescue Centre
OLPS came up with the idea of the Children’s Rescue Centre for needy children in 2006 after seeing a number of children in desperate need for protection, education, and shelter. Many children lose their parents or because of one reason or the other, find themselves homeless, without clothes and without food. Such children need a safe place which assures them of security and protection. The Children’s Rescue Centre would be important in providing for the spiritual, intellectual, physical and social needs of children and youth who have become victims of HIV/AIDS, neglect, abuse, poverty, hunger, and culture. The primary goal is to provide food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, education and skills training for orphans and vulnerable children and school dropouts who are in extremely difficult socio-economic circumstances that significantly compromise their social, physical, nutritional and financial security. The Rescue Center for the children would serve as a safe place for providing in-house care, support and rehabilitation of children in need and facilitate an effective community and parent empowerment systems. OLPS started fundraising to raise money to realize this noble idea. The first fundraising was organized and conducted in 2006 August. Enough funds were raised to lay the foundation for building in November 2006. The fundraising was mainly carried out through appeal cards, music and dancing, dramas, etc.
Once completed, the centre is expected to change greatly the lives of the children by enabling them to enjoy their childhood like other children i.e. attending school, clothing, receiving basic healthcare, actively participating in sports and other games, attending worship; services which they are deprived of because of poverty, hunger, neglect, poor health, and abuse. Since the centre will not be a permanent home for these children, it will facilitate their rehabilitation and integration into responsible family units by establishing close and responsible family member who can selflessly provide for them like their own.
Besides fundraising by the community, the centre was boosted by financial assistance from Mamahope International. Through partnership with Mamahope, OLPS has managed fast track the project and it is expected that the centre will start recruiting and rehabilitating children in need by August, 2012.
Our Lady Of Perpetual Support
P.O. Box 3400
Kisumu, Kenya
Tel: +254 202030720 / 733 403 704
Email: info @ olpskenya.org