2012 Jerusalem Children and Community De- Annual Report ... report2012.pdf · Annual Report 2012 |1. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE. We are always yearning for the end of the

2012 Annual Report

Nearly three decades of service to the people of Ethiopia!

Jerusalem Children and Community De-velopment Organization

(JeCCDO)

WHO WE ARE?

OUR VISIONJeCCDO envisages an Ethiopian society where all citizens promote the wellbeing of children.

OUR MISSIONJeCCDO facilitates community development process, where by the wellbeing of children is effectively promoted in all its target areas.

PROGRAMMATICGOALS• Playing a leading role in institutional capacity

development of partners to engage them in managing their own development and care for children.

• Promoting community’s access to basic services, thereby improvements in the quality of life of children are ensured.

• Encouraging communities to engage in productive activities that lead towards improved livelihood and development.

• Promoting community’s engagement in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

• Expanding partnership and mobilize resources to finance community development projects.

• Promoting organizational learning process and facilitate public dialogue on evidence based well researched lessons and development challenges.

OUR DEVELOPMENT APPROACH• Child centered, family focused and community

based • Partnership with CBOs

WHERE WE WORK

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ato Bizuneh FeteneMember

Mrs. Lynasay WadeMember

Ato Kassa RorissaMember

Mrs. Alison DorrisMember

Front cover pictureKids of Debre Birhan town: Fikirtu Feleke, Selam Belete, Tseday T/Mariam and Wuleta Seyoum

WHO WE ARE ?

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ato Bizuneh FeteneMember

Mrs. Lynasay WadeMember

Ato Kassa RorissaMember

Mrs. Alison DorrisMember

Front cover pictureKids of Debre Birhan town: Fikirtu Feleke, Selam Belete, Tseday T/Mariam and Wuleta Seyoum

Woy. Maaza KitawVice Chairperson

Rev. Roger KayMember

ACRONYMS

ABE: Alternative Basic EducationBCC: Behavioural Change CommunicationCBO: Community Based OrganizationCLA: Cluster Level AssociationDD-CAN: Dire Dawa Community Action NetworkDRR: Disaster Risk ReductionFAL: Functional Adult Literacy GF: Green ForumIEC: Information Education and CommunicationIGA: Income Generating ActivitiesJeCCDO: Jerusalem Children and Community Development OrganizationMoU: Memorandum of UnderstandingNGO: Nongovernmental OrganizationOVC: Orphan and Vulnerable ChildrenOVY: Orphan and Vulnerable YouthPLWHA: People Living with HIV and AIDSRBMELS: Result Based Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning SystemSAC: Social Accountability CouncilSHG: Self Help GroupUA: Urban AgricultureWASH: Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene

Contents

1 THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 2 SUCCESS STORIES9 ACTIVITY AND ACHIEVEMENT SUMMARY9 ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES 9 Education 13 Health, Water and Sanitation 16 Community Based OVC Care and Support17 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

AND LIVELIHOOD PROMOTION 17 Promotion of Urban Agriculture 18 Livelihood Promotion 19 Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction21 CAPACITY DEVELIOMENT AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT 21 Capacity Development 23 Grants Management24 PROMOTION, NETWORKING AND LEARNING25 CHALLENGS, LESSONS LEARNED AND FUTURE DIRECTION 25 Challenges 25 Lessons Learned 25 Future Direction26 BUDGET UTILIZATION OF THE YEAR 2012

Annual Report 2012 |1

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

We are always yearning for the end of the difficult chapters of the life of orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) in Ethiopia. Having a long and successful history in this regard, Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO) has stepped up its efforts in its 28th year of service.

During the previous fiscal year, being led by its blue print of 2010-2015 Strategic Management Plan, JeCCDO has done tremendous jobs in terms of empowering the underserved and marginalized members of the communities so as to ensure the wellbeing of children in a sustainable and steady manner. A significant achievement of the year is the implementation of

a Result Based Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning System (RBMELS), which is believed to be a pillar for enhancing future development and better functioning of JeCCDO. Through the RBMELS, we have been enabled to improve our effectiveness and accountability by continuously tracking the results achieved and getting feedback to improve performance. Consequently, our five-year Integrated Community Based Childcare Programme, being implemented in all our operational areas since January 2012, was founded by a baseline survey serving as a sound justification for the necessity of mounting our projects and to set a reference point for later assessment as to how far our objectives have been achieved. In addition to this, our activities of this year have helped us capacitate several dozen Community Based Organizations (CBOs) participating in the development processes underway in the different parts of the Country. In 2012, JeCCDO has expanded its services further to reach out 145 partner CBOs. The result has especially been rewarding this year since CBOs’ financial and institutional capacity got significantly improved as justified by their wide area coverage of community services. On the other hand, JeCCDO is almost finalizing the construction of a Training Center in Bishofftu (Debre Zeit) town, which will mainly be used, among other things, to run community development courses.

Although we have successfully done much to help our target communities come up onto the ladder of better living conditions, it is sometimes disheartening to realize that the key issues from previous years, such as changes in donor policy and procedures, as well as increase in the cost of living and the number of people to be addressed continue to be our bugbears.

At this juncture, I wish to state that all our noble activities would have not been materialized without the support of several parties. I would like to give special thanks to the Board members of JeCCDO for having accepted the responsibility of leading JeCCDO and coming up with valuable inputs. I am grateful to the government of Ethiopia, our donors, NGOs, CBOs, target communities and other individuals and institutions we work with for their contributions to ensuring JeCCDO’s long term ability to provide the services that targets want and the sector needs. I am well aware how much hard work went into the implementation of the 2012 projects from our staff, and I take this opportunity to thank them.

It is with great sadness that JeCCDO has to announce the death of its Board Chairperson, Ato Tesseraworq Shimelis, who had served JeCCDO in that capacity since 2006 and whose valuable support and encouragement has made significant contributions to JeCCDO‘s success. In fact, he will always be remembered and have a special place with us.

Finally, I invite you to read this report to get an insight into JeCCDO’s accomplishment of the previous year.

Let’s ensure the wellbeing of children through empowering the community they belong to!

Mulugeta Gebru

2| Annual Report 2012

It is really difficult to forget her smile and fervent desire to communicate with others once you have met Aysha Kemal. Aysha, 13, has been deaf and dumb since birth. She is one of the many OVC supported by JeCCDO in Dire Dawa city. While comparing her family’s situation before and after JeCCDO’s intervention, her mother, Fatte Badish said, “Had it not been for JeCCDO’s support, my family would have already ended up on the streets.”

The 28 years old Fatte has been married to Ato Kemal Nassir for more than 13 years. They have three children and live in Sabyan Kebele of Dire Dawa in a one room rented house, paying 200 birr* per month. Throughout their life together, Fatte and Kemal have suffered a lot to win life, especially to take care of their first born, Aysha, who has been ill since babyhood. They parents spent every energy and penny they had searching

for a cure for their daughter. As a bread winner in his family, Kemal Nasser used to sell shoes and socks on the streets and the wife looked after the children, especially Aysha. They led life that way for quite a long time, but at one point getting themselves empty handed. It was when Fatte was in childbed of her third baby. As they had no choice but fight to the last, they sold all their property and Kemal finally fled to the street in order to escape seeing his family suffering. Knowing the fact that her father had left home aggravated Aysha’s condition even further. That time, Fatte was compelled to do domestic works for families in the surrounding area for the sake of her children’s survival.

Things changed in 2012, when Fatte’s family was on the verge of an abyss that Aysha was enrolled in JeCCDO’s OVC support programme to get complete support package, including medical

SUCCESS STORIES

Things change ““Had it not been for JeCCDO’s support, my family

would have already ended up on the streets.”

(Right to Left): Aysha, Fatte and Kemal

* 1USD ~18.75 Ethiopian birr


treatment. As a result, Aysha got recovered from her illness and went back schooling. As for her mother, she was provided with OVC guardian support-business skills training and financial support to start business. And Aysha’s father finally joined his family back after relentless effort of the elderly. Now, he is able to get rid of his worries and has started working as a street vendor selling shoes. In the morning, he venders shoes and in the afternoon he displays the shoes in one corner of the street and sells with his wife till it gets dark. Their daily income ranges from 50 to 100 birr. They get 5 to 10 birr profit

from a pair of shoes. They have a weekly equb (voluntary rotating credit association) of 20 birr and a monthly saving of 50 birr. In the future, they want to expand their business. “We have seen a big change within a short period of time and if we get money, we wish to have a shop rather than sunning ourselves on the streets,” said Fatte while explaining their plan. Aysha, a fifth grader, is always happy to meet her parents after school in their work place. She says to her mother: “Don’t worry Mom, I will be educated and change your life.”

Words of renovated house beneficiary

Post renovation

Woy. Alemitu Wondemagegnehu, a 57 years old and HIV positive woman, lives in Kebele 06 of Debre Birhan town. She is the head of the household and lives with her 24 years old son, who is a daily labourer and a fourth grader and her 10 years old grandson. She is earning an income by running a petty trade.

Pre- renovation

For the last 25 years, Woy. Alemitu used to live in her old and decayed Kebele Administration rented house for one birr monthly fee. Unfortunately, the house could not protect them fully from rain, flood and cold weather conditions; rather it was a favourable home of rats and other pests. Their clothes were always scratched and food items, spoiled by the rats. Because of her poor housing condition, she repeatedly suffered from tuberculosis and other respiratory infectious diseases.


According to Alemitu, for the last five years, all of her family members had been afraid of the rainy seasons as they spent all those years with sleepless nights covering their bed with plastic sheets. “I have no words to express the suffering my family has been faced with. We were leading almost a type of street life, even when you think of the rodents it could be the worst. All the health problems I have faced were worsened by the poor condition of my house,” Alemitu explained the situation.

After contemplating her case, JeCCDO renovated her house in 2012. “Now, thanks to JeCCDO for the help it provided me, and praise to the Almighty God, I am trying to forget all the pains I have been suffering from my previous dilapidated house and started to live a happy life in my new home.” Woy. Alemitu further emphasized: “Having food and clothes is secondary to a home. Because, if the worst comes, you can beg for food and clothes but not for a house to live in and take a rest when you are sick.”

A multidimensional intervention

“Now, thanks to JeCCDO, we are drinking safe and clean water!”

Ura is one of the peri urban kebeles in Bahir Dar City Administration. For many a year, the community had been using Lake Tana as its water source till it turned out to be unsafe. Ato Bayeh Teka, nearly 70, has been living there all his life. He compared the past and the present condition of the Lake this way: “We grew up drinking water from Lake Tana. In those days, the water was clean and it did not cause illness. But some five or six years back, it became dirty, and a breeding ground for green algae as a result of which our health became affected by waterborne diseases like diarrhea. Because of this, we were forced to boil the water that we fetched from the Lake before drinking it. There were even days when we felt thirsty but did not dare to drink because of the pollution.”

Not only that, the untreated water from Lake Tana was the only source of water used for all domestic consumption of the entire households in the Kebele but also it took most of the households half to one and half hour to fetch water from the Lake. As women and children mainly shoulder the responsibility of collecting water, children used to spend most of their out of school hours for water fetching from the Lake. Even more, girls and women had to face sexual violence while collecting water from there. Sanitation wise, women and girls in Ura Kebele rarely used to wash clothes and take baths as it was not easy for them to take baths in the Lake due to gender and other socio-cultural factors.

Intending to improve the livelihood of this community, mainly that of women and children through improved Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services, JeCCDO has been exerting effort since April 2011. The project, which lasts until 2015, was financed by WaterAid and nearly amounts to 9,514,723 birr, and involves effective partnership and networking with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders as well as enhanced community participation and contribution since the


planning stage. One major activity of the project is the installation of a water reservoir by stretching a five kilo meter water pipe from Zege to Ura Kidanemihiret. Consequently, 9 water points have been established, which, in turn, benefit around 8000 people. Community empowerment through trainings and strengthening of their committees formed for the purpose of administering and maintaining the WASH facilities, monitoring water quality, the promotion of hygienic and safe sanitation practices using information and communication materials, including the local media and the integration of hygiene education with the delivery of water and sanitation services and facilities, among others, are activities thus performed.

As a result, JeCCDO’s project of multidimensional objective has yielded the intended outcomes successfully. Woy. Hamelmal Wubetu, 62 and having a family of four members confirmed by saying: “When we were fetching water from Tana, my children were continuously sick that I have to take them to Bahir Dar city searching for cure as they could not get enough treatment in the nearby health center.” Being cognizant of the situation, she decided to fetch clean tap water from Zegie area, which takes her two hours walking distance. There, she used to pay one birr for 20 liters of water. Given the time, money and labour required, she was obliged to limit her family’s daily water consumption to the minimum possible amount. “So, the availability of the water points nearby has improved my life in many ways. All the women in our area are able to save time and money. More and more, our health is protected,” said Hamelmal.

It is after witnessing such a remarkable change that Bayeh dared to say, “Now, thanks to JeCCDO, we are drinking safe and clean water.”

The right life path

Ato Tesfaye Wondimu, 57, is one of JeCCDO’s sheep fattening programme beneficiaries in Andenet Kebele of Bahil Adarash sub city, Hawassa. He is an ex-soldier of the Derg Regime;

married and has 3 children. Since 1994, he had been unemployed and dependent on his wife’s very small business income, of which they pay for house rent, schooling and other subsistence. The house, where he lives in, is much worse than anyone could imagine. Besides, he shares a communal toilet with about 35 households (more than 200 people).

For the past many years, Tesfaye had been trying to get a job but couldn’t find

any because of his age. “It was really painful to look after children with an empty pocket, looking at the hungry faces and the hardship of own beloved ones, but no choice,” said Tesfaye remembering those times.


In the year 2012, the nearby JeCCDO partner CBO reported to JeCCDO how much Tesfaye’s family had been suffering for survival that JeCCDO immediately, paid a visit to the family and realized how far they had been endangered.

Then after, Tesfaye was provided with a training on sheep fattening and four rams to start work. Next, the jobless man became pre occupied with caring for the sheep and made them a close friend. After three months of feeding, he took them to the market and got 3,900 birr profit, which made him

highly motivated and encouraged. He bought four rams with the additional money he got and now he has eight sheep being fed for the next two months. By then, he expects a minimum of 4,000 birr profit.

Ato Tesfaye exclaimed: “Thanks to JeCCDO, in my late age, my life has got on the right path that I am enjoying, spending the rest of my life with the innocent animals. Even more, my family’s livelihood is improved. We are very happy now!”

Breaking out of poverty through togetherness

Fettno Derash SHG was established in Keble 06 of Debre Zeit /Bishofftu city with 18 members in May 2012. With an average family size of five to eight members, mostly mother headed ones,

the area was mainly known for its illegal youth engaged in different bad habits. The main source of income of the families had been the sale of beverage - tella (local alchoholic drink)- and small petty trade. More and more, it was very difficult for children to attend school due to both economic and social problems.

At first, when the women were organized into SHG through JeCCDO’s facilitation, the members did not even know each other and their social and economic problems were complicated. Gradually, however, they started to observe concrete changes. One of the members of the SHG, Woy. Hiwot Semere, explained: “We save and discuss our problems weekly.” This, according to her, improved their relationships and financial capacity. According to Hiwot, her SHG group saving has now reached 5,762 birr. Besides, their involvement in the SHG helped them improve their leadership style and conflict resolution quality. She further explained: “We have established internal lending system and most of us are engaged in different businesses.” Now, each member is enabled to get

A partial view of Fettno Derash SHG members at their weekly meeting

“It is possible to break out of poverty trap through working

together as SHG group.’’


at least 500 birr credit, which will help them improve their business. Consequently, they are engaged in different income generating activities such as selling cultural clothes. In addition, the members have improved the culture of helping each other that their social and community problems are also highly reduced. Hiwot asserted, “Thanks to JeCCDO, we have completely cleaned an area polluted by chat waste and people with bad habit in the neighborhood and turned it into a very nice playing ground for children using our voice.”

“It is possible to break out of poverty trap through working together as SHG group,’’ Hiwot concluded. In general, the establishment of Fettno Derash SHG has brought a holistic change in the lives of the members and several others.Hiwot Semere

From retirement to inspiration

It is true that community is the master of its own destiny. Here is a good example. Kebele 08 of the Debre Birhan town, which is 130km from Addis, is a place where quite a great number of children are left abandoned and have lost their parents and thus destined to be vulnerable. Geographically located at the outskirt of the town, the Kebele receives many migrants from the vicinity and other rural areas. Consequently, the area suffers from population pressure, followed by extreme poverty, which is manifested by poor sanitation, disgrace of women, underprivileged economic status, helplessness, and hopelessness of children, etc.

Awakened, by the miserable situation of life in the area, a group of elderly people started talking about the matter during their sipping hours in a local ‘Tej House’. Obsessed with the existing reality, they used to go to church and plead Lord to bring cure to the ‘curse’ the community made to divinity. Nothing, however, was averted.

These older men did not have the expertise but the courage to change the ‘curse’. Thus, in the summer of 2008, they conceived the need to do something about it. They mobilized some funds from some individuals, topped up their own, purchased some exercise books and supported a few number of OVC to go to school: an initiative which was highly applauded by the local community. They further extended their initiative and thereby approached the local government and NGOs operating in the town including JeCCDO. Having scrutinized their endeavour, JeCCDO responded to their request positively that it assisted them to form a group. They were then provided with various skills enhancement training which they claim to have enlightened them more. The group progressed to an association called ‘Yedebre Birhan Ketema Kebele 08 Newariwoch Mahiber’ which later secured a registration license from the relevant local government office.

And later, since 2011, the association was embraced by the JeCCDO-Sida project as an implementing partner for project activities like


OVC support, guardian economic empowerment, institutional capacity development of the CBO itself, etc. In accordance with the grant assistance, JeCCDO has endeavoured to augment the CBO’s capacity through the provision of training in such areas as project cycle management, resource mobilization, financial and property management, facilitation of experience sharing, introduction of simplified management systems, etc. The sum of these activities enabled the CBO reach out: 91 OVC (female 58) through integrated OVC support; 90 poor guardians (female 61) through economic empowerment and 35 OVY (female 27) through skills training and provision of startup capital. Furthermore, the CBO has enhanced the child care related knowledge of 536 (female 336) community members through awareness rising on child protection and women empowerment. The CBO has also put in place an operational organizational structure, defined its identity, established working relationships with stakeholders, developed working systems and modalities (working manuals), recruited volunteers, and employed a few staff.

As a result, the CBO often claims to have learned the fact that poverty, disease, hunger, etc. can be deterred if the community works together. Thus,

it further pursued and in 2012, the CBO lobbied and secured 9360 m2 plot of land with some old houses inside from Debre Birhan Municipality. The CBO has renovated the houses and is rigorously working to establish integrated urban agriculture (dairy farming, poultry, gardening, etc.) in order that they can boost their income base and thus sustainably support the most disadvantaged group of the community. Moreover, the CBO purchased a multipurpose warehouse at a cost of 350,000 birr and established grain bank and grinding mill. The CBO also owns a three wheel vehicle and a multipurpose shop. Currently, all these income generating activities have created a huge lump sum for its sustainable pro-poor intervention programmes. The CBO has designed development projects for the years to come, planned to work with the nearby rural people (community leaders) to reduce harmful traditional practices like early marriage and hence combat rural-to-urban migration. Besides, the CBO has gained good reputation from the community, local government, NGOs, and other development partners. In sum, the action tips that retired people are not retired, but rather inspired for community development! Indeed, it shows that community is the master of its own destiny!

Yedebre Birhan Ketema Kebele 08 Newariwoch Mahiber sharing its experiences with other CBOs from different parts of the nation.


I. ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES

The aim of JeCCDO’s Access to Basic Services Programme is to improve the wellbeing of children and other disadvantaged community members by increasing their access to education, shelter, clothing, health, water and sanitation services.

The following summaries highlight some of the accomplishments of JeCCDO under the Access to Basic Services Programme during the previous fiscal year.

1.1 Education

2011 witnessed the continued effort of JeCCDO in providing myriads of services enhancing access to and improving the quality of basic education for children and other target community members.

ACTIVITY AND ACHIEVEMENT

SUMMARY


Tutorial Class

• 8,275 (4,634 girls) primary and secondary school students in disadvantaged communities attended tutorial classes on selected academic subjects with the integration of extracurricular topics such as HIV and AIDS, ethics and personal hygiene.

• 72 (37 female) tutors were trained in refreshment trainings of different areas relevant to the programme.

• 618 (316 girls) tutees participated in life skill trainings.• 6 tutorial classrooms were maintained.• 586 (380 female) people drawn from parents of tutees, CBOs, school community and tutors

were mobilized to facilitate the tutorial programme. • Reference books were provided for tutorial centers.

Alternative Basic Education (ABE)

• 546 (279 girls) out-of-school children, without any opportunities to formal basic education, were provided with ABE programmes, along with the supply of necessary learning-teaching materials. Apart from the lesson, health related issues were addressed at the Centers.

• The ABE Centre at Ura Kebele in Bahir Dar City Administration, which was upgraded to a first cycle primary school and handed over to the Education Office of the City Administration in 2011, was furnished with the necessary pedagogical materials.

Functional Adult Literacy (FAL)

• 1,565 adults (1,137 women) attended FAL classes, which covered basic literacy, health and sanitation, reproductive health and environmental science.

• 1,489 (607 women) community members participated in community discussions and sensitizations on the importance of adult literacy.

School Capacity Development

• 84 (18 female) school teachers attended refresher training and experience sharing programmes on different topics relevant to maintaining quality education.

• 299 (129 women) members of Parent Teacher Associations were capacitated through training, experience sharing and working materials support.

• A total of 20 schools were provided with basic educational inputs, such as text books, reference books, combined desks, sport materials, stationeries and office equipments.

• Students with economic difficulties were provided with stationery materials that enabled them to continue their education, the lack of which could have deterred them from attending their classes regularly.


• Community members were mobilized to take part in school management.• Over 9,138 students (4,073 girls) have benefited from the conducive learning-teaching

environment promoted in their respective schools.• In all, 9,934 (5,761 female) members of the targeted school community benefited during

the period under report.

Support for Girls Clubs and other School Initiatives

• 15,031 school children (6,237 girls) in 26 schools were reached through school girls club support interventions by way of rigorous training, experience sharing as well as material support. The trainings included leadership, assertiveness, para-legal skills, reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, and gender issues.

• Tutorial classes were provided to 1,200 school girls so as to improve their academic performance.

• Different workshops, trainings and practical sessions on road safety as well as mobility and traffic issues were conducted for 783 (367 girls) school children.

Early Childhood Education

• 566 (328 girls) children were provided with various services that will prepare them for formal schooling.

• 53 (12 women) community members attended community sensitization and experience sharing training on preschool intervention.

• 36 (25 female) preschool teachers attended refreshment training on pre-school education.

Promotion of Inclusive Education

• 120 (69 girls) children with disabilities were provided with different special needs education materials.

• 689 (372 women) parents, teachers and community members were addressed through community awareness raising programmes, workshops and trainings on sign language as well as the educational needs and rights of children with disabilities.

Library and Information Services

• About 130,760 (51,060 women) community members were served at the Public Library and Information Center in Bahir Dar. The service rendered by the Center comprised spot reading, book loan, internet, periodicals and secretarial services.

• 4,193 children benefited from a separate children’s library at the Center.


Achievements

• The academic performance of the students involved in the tutorial classes has significantly improved.

• Needs of out-of-school children for quality basic education were meet. • Illiteracy rate at community level decreased. • Adult learners’ knowledge, attitude and practice on issues, such as HIV and AIDS, family planning,

hygiene and sanitation as well as childcare and education have been improved significantly.• Community members developed and applied functional skills they had acquired from the FAL to

their personal and family lives.• Community capacity in relation to school management improved.• The quality of the learning-teaching process in targeted schools improved.• School girls have developed self-confidence; assertiveness; a habit of peer support and working

closely with the respective school and concerned government offices for the promotion of girls’ rights; started challenging traditional practices and attitudes that hamper their development; and achieved better academic performance.

• The level of participation and performance of school girls and boys in academic, gender, HIV and AIDS, road safety, environment, OVC and other social issues increased.

• Pre-school age children of disadvantaged families accessed early childhood education.• Educational and social opportunities for children with different sorts of disabilities were promoted

successfully. • Knowledge and skill of students and other community members on different issues regarding

inclusive education increased. • Academic performance and general knowledge of youth and children improved.• Access to information and education for all social groups improved.

1. 2 Health, Water and Sanitation

• 22,594 (11,771 women and girls) community members were reached through trainings of peer educators, strengthening Anti-AIDS youth clubs, community conversation and sensitization programmes and production and distribution of Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) materials.

• 379 (316 women) People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) and transactional sex workers were economically rehabilitated to become self supporting.

• Commemoration of the annual anti HIV and AIDS day was held in collaboration with respective government offices along with the target community.

• A learning workshop with the purpose of a learning event was organized to strengthening the HIV in workplace learning group to independently move forward. In total, 20 people (5 female) participated in this workshop. Participants represented different organizations which were partner NGOs, new organizations which had the intention of working on HIV and AIDS in the workplace programme/policy, representatives of private businesses as well as government authorities.

• 4 steering group meetings were conducted, thereby discussing the theme of change management from the perspective of managing HIV in workplace and crafting a strategy to lead the future directions of learning group.

• 4 workshops, which were part of the linking and learning project preparatory activities, were conducted on issues including concept development on social protection and HIV livelihoods;


defining learning methodology, organizational structure of the project, roles and responsibilities, coordination, defining and concretizing learning questions coined by participating organizations, development of action plan for the project, and the contribution of research to learning practice.

• 783 (367 women and girls) community members were reached through various workshops, trainings and practical sessions having to do with health issues.

• 362 women were trained on the

importance and preparation of nutritious food for children and housekeeping.

• Adolescent girls and boys received trainings on reproductive health.

• Training of women and youth as community based peer educators on reproductive health and family planning issues was conducted.

• Community members were provided with family planning and reproductive health education using community conversation, coffee ceremonies, and awareness raising sessions.

• Arrangement of referral linkage service for women, whereby they received different family planning and reproductive health services at various health institutions was made.

• 7 in-school and out-of-school youth clubs working on reproductive health issues were strengthened.

• An assessment of the sexual behaviour and the risks of HIV and sexually

transmitted infections among Bahir Dar University students was conducted. The objectives of the assessment, among others, were to understand the driving forces leading to transactional sex; to examine how much the university students are aware of the risk of contracting HIV because of their involvement in transactional sex; and to examine how much university authorities are aware of the trend, and the measures they have taken to cope with the situation.

• In collaboration with the Bahir Dar University, the protection of students from HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions was addressed.

• Community mobilization leading to the reduction of harmful traditional practices was undertaken.

• 831 (598 women) community members were sensitized to the importance of environmental sanitation and healthy living condition through community discussions and sensitizations.

• The needs of 34,885 (20,076 women and girls) slum dwellers have been met through the access created by the provision of water points and sanitation facilities at personal and communal level. Activities undertaken under this sub-component included: provision of body and cloth washing soaps; construction of 12 communal water points; 20 shower blocks and toilets; provision of hygiene and sanitation education; and mobilization of the


community to launch environmental sanitation campaigns.

• Water and sanitation management committees in the target communities and schools were established and/or strengthened.

• 4,500 (2,610 female) community members were reached through provision of materials and the creation of access to WASH facilities for the health post at Ura Kebele, Bahir Dar. Specific activities carried out were provision of first aid kit and basic supplies as well as construction a four-seat pit latrine for the health post.

• 44 disadvantaged families (elderly people, women and orphan headed households as well as PLWHA) were addressed through renovation of dilapidated houses.

• 1,812 (761 female) community members in six Woredas of Dire Dawa City were reached through: increased use of long-lasting insecticide nets, especially among children less than five years of age and pregnant women. Attainment of improved treatment-seeking behaviour among the targeted community as a whole and especially among children under five years of age and increasing the acceptance of indoor residual spray also included.

Achievements

• Enhanced community’s health condition.• Creation of healthy environment for child growth within the homestead in the target communities.• Increased voluntary counseling and testing among community members.• Reduced stigma and discrimination against people affected by HIV and AIDS. • Rehabilitation of PLWHA and transactional sex workers whereby they started supporting

themselves and their families by running small business activities. • Reduced vulnerability to HIV and AIDS infection and susceptibility to its impacts among the

target community members in JeCCDO operational areas. • Improved knowledge, attitude and practice of community members, particularly women and

youth on family planning and reproductive health issues. • Enhanced community member knowledge, attitude and practice on hygiene and sanitation related

issues. • Increased target community access to clean drinking water supply and basic sanitation and hygiene

facilities.• Reduced incidence of waterborne and sanitation related diseases.• Improved malaria transmission and prevention knowledge.• The reduction of malaria morbidity and mortality up to 75%.

1.3 Community Based OVC Care and Support

The major components of this sub-programme include psychosocial support for OVC, along with economic empowerment of households taking care of OVC and enabling orphans and vulnerable youth (OVY) to become self-supporting and productive members of their community.

• 5,716 (3,004 girls) OVC were supported with financial subsidy, medical care, educational materials, school uniform, casual clothing and life skills enhancement with close follow up and guidance.

• 1,847 (956 girls) OVC in school clubs and those sexually abused and exploited have received various life skill trainings.

• One of JeCCDO’s implementing partner CBOs, the Enbra Cluster Level Association, renovated a temporary shelter to serve as waiting room for trafficked children and provided it with facilities (mattress and food).

• 10,858 (6,930 female) parents and other community members participated in discussions and trainings on community OVC care and support and parental skill.

• 3,121 (2,399 female) OVC guardians were capacitated through the provision of business and entrepreneurship skills trainings and working capital which enabled them to start generating a sustainable income.

• 1,437 (790 female) OVC guardians were provided with trainings on proper parenting, prevention of harmful traditional practices, protection of children and gender issues.

• 786 (390 female) OVY became economically self-reliant after attending short and medium term skill training programmes in different fields, such as tailoring, driving, woodwork, metal work, electricity, hairdressing and surveying. Upon completion of the training, the youth were provided with a startup capital.

Achievements

• Proper physical, mental/intellectual growth and development of target OVC.• Opportunities offered for OVC to attend school and get protected from abuse and neglect.• Increased level of income and better living conditions of families with OVC and, most of all,

enablement of families to take care of their OVC with their own resources and initiatives.• Economic and social independence of orphan children and vulnerable youth.


II. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND LIVELIHOOD PROMOTION

This core programme was aimed at encouraging communities to engage in productive activities that lead towards improved livelihood and development and promoting community engagement in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

2.1. Promotion of Urban Agriculture (UA)

Through the UA programme, JeCCDO promoted income source and food security as well as the man-agement of natural resources among vulnerable and marginalized groups of the community.

• More than 2,119 (1,246 female) community members were reached through awareness raising about UA via sensitization workshops, community gatherings and discussions, field days, vegetable days, UA exhibitions, community based live demonstrations and experience sharing events.

• 221 (117 women) people drawn from UA Community Committees and CBO were strengthened and capacitated through various trainings, experience sharing and technical support.

• 3 CBOs were strengthened through material support.• 140 (69 women) CBO members attended training in bio-intensive gardening, linkage and

networking.• 81 (32 girls) school club members from six schools were provided with training focusing

on bio-intensive gardening. In addition, ten school clubs were supported with agricultural tools for them to establish demonstration plots in the school compounds.

• 358 (87 women) community members were trained in the training of trainers, and provided with the required tools and inputs to start bio-intensive gardening. Each of the community trainers is expected to train at least five beneficiaries.

• 20 (2 women) urban livestock producers received training on the production of different forage plants and thus provided with tools and two varieties of forage seedlings to start production.

• 10 unemployed youth were trained in the techniques of composting and provided with horse and cart. The trained youth got engaged in compost making as a business.


• A highland fruit demonstration plot with a total of 600 rootstocks and 310 apple and two plum trees was established and managed in Debre Birhan, whereby a total of 97 beneficiaries (42 female) were trained in the practice of highland fruit production and management and received seedlings.

• 11,099 (6,560 women) people visited the afore–mentioned demonstration plot and learned a lot from it.

• 338 (205 women) community members were trained in small livestock fattening/breeding and given sheep/goats as a startup grant.

• 270 (188 women) beneficiaries were trained in backyard poultry keeping and received pullets/layers and cockerel, together with a financial subsidy for the construction of small poultry house.

• 312 people (216 women) were trained in agri-business skills, of which 116 of them were organized into retailer groups.

Achievements

• Enhancement of the capacity of CBOs and urban agriculture committees to facilitate the promo-tion of UA interventions in the implementation process and ultimate takeover of the development process at the end of the project period.

• Engagement of 573 (386 females) community members in bio-intensive gardening.• Improved household food availability, diversity and income.

2.2 Livelihood Promotion

Poor and marginalized women were mobilized to organize themselves in Self Help Groups (SHGs) based on homogeneity factors, such as economic status, household size and geographic location and addressed their social and economic problems.

• 60 SHGs, 7 Cluster Level Associations (CLAs) that are umbrella organizations formed by 8 to 12 SHGs, and 2 Timrets (Federations) were established through the facilitation of JeCCDO. As a result, the total number of SHGs, CLAs and Timrets established by JeCCDO has reached 418, 34 and 2,

respectively. The total number of women SHG members has reached 7,654.

• 1,417 community members (1,346 women) and representatives of different stakeholders participated in the workshops intended to raise their understanding of the concept of SHG approach.


• Both the newly established and existing SHGs, CLAs and Timrets were strengthened through the provision of office materials, stationeries and trainings on the concept of SHG approach, the process of development of SHGs, goal setting, action planning, communication and leadership skills, book writing, saving and credit, conflict resolution, fund management, bookkeeping, monitoring and self-assessment skills and the like.

• A basket producing group of 32 members from Negede Woito community in Bahir Dar was supported to get organized

as handicraft producers and got legalized as well as financial support.

• 216 (160 female) youth were trained in basic business skills, of which 103 (72 female) were provided with startup capital.

Achievements

• Improved socio-economic status of marginalized women.• Increased access to financial services.• Improved household access to basic needs.• Acquisition of marketable skills by unemployed youth and women.• Beneficence of 24,086 children (< 18 years of age) of the SHG members from their mothers SHG

membership.

2.3 Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

Intensive work was done to promote community involvement in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction activities. • 8,335 (3,482 female) people drawn from the target community and other stakeholders participated in community sensitizations organized on the issue of climate change adaptation and natural disaster risk reduction.

• A Green Forum (GF) composed of community members, government organizations, Kebele/city administrations, academic and research institutions, relevant charities, and other development partners were organized to promote environmental issues. Several activities were also undertaken in strengthening GFs and their initiatives, whereby a total of 2,101 (790 female) people were reached. Activities undertaken, among others, include: discussion of key environmental issues and coordination of quarterly meetings of the existing GFs, preparation, validation and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by members of the GFs.


• 28 (7 women) Kebele level disaster risk reduction and livelihood coordination committee members were trained on leadership.

• Different awareness raising workshops were conducted for communities residing nearest to Lake Hawassa. During the workshops, the major issues discussed were the current threats of the Lake, the causes of the problems, possible mechanisms to protect the Lake and the role of individuals, communities and other stakeholders in this regard.

• 30 local fishermen were provided with a two-day training on basic sciences and practical fishing skills. The training included such topics as biodiversity of the Lake, the breeding time of fish, the technology of fishing, the species of fishes, and the legal aspects of fishing.

• 3 CBOs were supported in their efforts to undertake biological conservation, construction of soil and water conservation structures and organic waste recycling activities around Lake Hawassa.

• Awareness raising workshop was conducted on alternative sources of energy for 195 (106 women) members of the GF and other community members.

• Tree plantation in and around urban areas was carried out and nearly 255,092 tree seedlings, planted in all JeCCDO’s five operational areas.

• A nursery site of 2,500 m2 was established in Debre Birhan for the production of seedlings of selected adaptive tree species.

Achievements• Engagement of community members in UA activities, environmental protection discussions,

participatory disaster risk assessment activities and tree planting.• Engagement of the GFs in facilitating different development initiatives, including the celebration

of biodiversity day and community mobilization for tree planting.• Improved awareness on concepts of climate change and climate change adaptation.• Enhanced community resilience.


III. CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT

The capacity development and grants management programme mainly intends to develop the institutional, operational and systemic capacities of CBOs and manage delegated grants and facilitate the implementation of various community based projects. Key activities conducted under capacity development and grants management are presented hereunder.

3.1. Capacity Development • Sensitization workshops were conducted for 1,079 (511 female) people drawn from the grassroots

communities, government sector offices and other partner NGOs and concerned stakeholders in all target areas as an entry point of the Five-year Integrated Community Based Childcare Project.

• 219 (72 women) CBO members and officials-from the local Kebele Administration and the Sub-city Children and Women Affairs Office took part in a sensitization and community dialogue on basic concepts, background and application of memory work and familiarizing JeCCDO’s development programmes.

• 396 (167 female) community members and stakeholders participated in annual and bi-annual programme review meetings held with various stakeholders at different times. CBO executives and village level committee, selected beneficiaries and other partner organizations were thus involved.

• System strengthening activity was carried out for 31 CBOs by preparing human, financial and procurement manuals.

• Various technical and material supports were provided for 145 CBOs and 6 regional forums based on needs assessment. The support included guiding CBOs to the right track in using different guiding manuals, beneficiary selection, project implementation, monitoring and proper reporting, opening bank account, legalization process and provision of financial vouchers, tables, shelves, guest chairs, printers, bicycles, sanitary materials and umbrellas.

• 961 (317 female) CBOs, CBO Forums and line government office representatives participated in various experience sharing visits organized with a major focus of gearing CBO’s accomplishment towards community development programmes, achievements; financial management and documentation; challenges and strategies to tackle the challenges; building strong working relationship among CBOs; problem identification, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation; as well as reporting and documentation.


• 1,975 (593 female) people drawn from 92 CBOs and Social Accountability Councils (SACs), line government offices, influential community representatives and other stakeholders attended various discussion sessions held with representatives of the Parent Teacher Association committees in the former SAC project target schools. The objective of the discussion was to review the performance of the committees with regard to the effect of the previously implemented activities (by SAC project) on improving access to quality education, and to raise awareness on development priorities of JeCCDO.

• Discussion sessions were conducted with CBO executives, village level committee and beneficiaries aimed at reviewing the overall performance of the CBOs on community based child care programme implementation.

• 5,397 (1,942 female) CBO members, CBO networking forum members and community members participated in the different trainings organized around the topics of leadership and conflict resolution; proposal writing, fund raising and community and resource mobilization; problem identification, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation; documentation, reporting; mentoring, conflict management, volunteerism; by-law revision, bookkeeping and warehouse management; identifying and mobilizing OVC needs and priorities; OVC care and support, guardian support; community development

programmatic issues; adult learning, communication, facilitation skills; strategic planning process, leadership, partnership and networking; project cycle management and information technology.

• 57 (17 female) representatives of CBOs and networking forums were supported in terms of facilitating consecutive meetings of their forums to revise past activities and design future direction, with the intention of strengthening the Forums for better achievement of the development objectives of member CBOs.

• The construction of a Training Center intended to empower communities by strengthening their capacity through trainings was undertaken at Debre Zeit/Bishofftu.

JeCCDO’s Training Center in Bishofftu


3.2. Grants Management

Through the Partnerships and Grants Management Services and in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), JeCCDO was able to reach out 38 CBOs working in different parts of the nation in 2012. The CBOs, in turn, reached4,867 OVC (2,603 girls) through integrated support; that is the provision of educational materials, casual clothing, health care, life skills, shelter maintenance and sanitation supports; 2,253 guardians (1,786 women); 485 OVY (258 female) and 10,313 people (6,481 female) through community awareness raising schemes

on community based OVC care and support. Besides, 4,044 (2,500 girls) children were supported via strengthening tutorial classes through the procurement of learning and teaching materials for tutees attending tutorial classes. Other than these, various discussion forums were organized on OVC care and support; trainings were organized for OVC care givers on parental skills and, most importantly, various technical and material supports were provided to partner CBOs. The details have been presented in the preceding parts of this report.

Achievements

• Project cycle management capacity of partner CBOs improved.• Resource mobilization capacity of partner CBOs improved.• Strategic planning capacity of CBOs enhanced.• Systems and procedures of partner CBOs strengthened.• Community cohesion got enhanced through networking forums and dialogue mounted with their

respective local government bodies.• Community participation and orientation to developmental activities enhanced.• Volunteerism enhanced and encouraged CBOs and volunteers to contribute more back to their

communities.• Experience sharing visits enabled CBOs to extract and adopt best practices, to act with commitment

on development programmes and to establish strong ties with their counterparts and government partners.

A number of promotion, networking and learning activities were carried out during the year under review. To mention some, JeCCDO:

• stood among the top five NGOs in the 2011/2012 National Charities Good Practice competition organized by the Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Association.

• promoted its image during project agreement signing, launching, reviewing and handing over events; baseline survey validation workshops, grant awarding events, workshops, forums, environmental protection campaigns, SHG days; NGO Good Practice Day; as well as through print and electronic media, organizational website and newsletter, posters, brochures, booklets and the like.

• sponsored and organized in the celebration of African and World Child Days in partnership with government offices and media agencies.

• created awareness about the lives of marginalized communities and realizing strong NGO forums and GO-NGO networks.

• organized 5 CDPO level action committees conducting periodical improvement-oriented critical reflection and learning.

• facilitated the establishment of GF in all the target areas whereby addressing the effects of climate change.

• mobilized communities for environmental protection campaigns.

• co-organized the 2011 United States Student Achievers Programme, meant to identify talented yet economically disadvantaged Ethiopian students who desire to help their communities. Accordingly, 6 students (4 girls) were selected and offered intensive educational advice to enable them secure admission and financial assistance to pursue their studies in US universities and return to Ethiopia.

• facilitated various awareness raising sessions on child protection, care and support; gender based violence, harmful traditional practices; HIV and AIDS; water and sanitation; volunteerism, resource mobilization; health, education and other related issues.

• facilitated the visits of various people and groups; both from within and outside the Country.

• signed MoU with members of GF. • chaired the Consortium of Self Help Group

Promoting Organizations.• commissioned project evaluations and

held discussions based on the results of the evaluations.

• institutionalized RBMELS.

IV. PROMOTION, NETWORKING AND LEARNING

JeCCDO’ Executive Director, Ato Mulugeta Gebru, receiving an award for the 2011/2012 National Charities Good Practice competition from H.E Ato Hailemariam Dessalegn, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and the current Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Achievements

• Awareness created on the lives of marginalized communities.• Strong NGO forums and GO-NGO networks.• Increased community awareness on climate change adaptation planning and management.• Enhanced impact and visibility of JeCCDO.• Community members reported cases of child and women abuses to the police.


V. CHALLENGES, LESSONS LEARNED AND THE WAY FORWARD

5.1 Challenges

• Fading away of volunteering culture.

• Market fluctuations and increasing inflation threatening the coping mechanisms of communities which have led to increased vulnerability.

• Dependency on aid among some community members.

• Mismatch between expected target beneficiaries and the actual number of support for the needy.

• Deep rooted poverty among target communities.

• Lack of access to working places and offices for CBOs and SHGs’ IGA.

• Resettlement plan of cities affecting members organized into SHGs.

5. 2 Lessons Learned

• CBOs are best to reach out vulnerable people (children, women, unemployed youth, etc).

• Community and local resource mobilization is effective.

• Sustainability of development efforts is ensured through CBOs.

• The value of experience sharing and peer learning is high in community development projects.

5. 3 Future Direction

• Need based capacity building services for communities and their structures.

• Maximizing achievements through result based monitoring, evaluation and learning.

• Programme implementation through CBOs, beneficiaries and other stakeholders.


BUDGET UTILIZATION OF THE YEAR 2012

EXPENDITURE STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED - DECEMBER 31, 2012

Programmes/ Projects Total

Access to Basic Services (ABS) 23,967,062Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction and Livelihood Promotion (CCADRRL) 5,838,404

Capacity Development and Grantes Management (CDGM) 11,487,425Administration 13,931,750Total Expenditure 55,224,641

21%

25%

ABS CCADRRL

11%

CDGM AAdministration

43%

n

LAMENTATIONS

The Late, Ato Tesseraworq Shimelis

JeCCDO is truly saddened by the passing away of Ato Tesseraworq Shimelis, the Chairman of its Board of Directors, who had served in that capacity since 2006. He will always be remembered and have a special place with us for his valuable contributions to the organization, its dear partners and

the overall development of Ethiopia.

JeCCDO

AddressCentral Office

JeCCDOP. O. Box 41742

Tel: 251-11-661 10 92Fax: 251-11-661 10 94

E-mail: [email protected] Ababa, Ethiopia

Bahir Dar P.O.Box 337

Tel: 058-2182221/22Bahir Dar

Debre Birhan P.O.Box 77

Tel: 011-6811313Debre Birhan

Debre Zeit P.O.Box 45

Tel: 011-4338589Debre Zeit

Dire Dawa P.O.Box 1680

Tel: 025-1119297Dire Dawa

Hawassa P.O.Box 1346

Tel: 046-210007Hawassa

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Documents

2012 Jerusalem Children and Community De- Annual Report ... report2012.pdf · Annual Report 2012 |1. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE. We are always yearning for the end of the