An inescapable fact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is its costly effect on orphans and vulnerable children’s (OVC) education.  As HIV/AIDS increases, the number of children receiving educational support declines.  Education and HIV/AIDS hinge on each other–HIV/AIDS affects education in many ways, but in many ways, education can fight and prevent further spread of HIV/AIDS.  Early childhood development remains critical, not only to the livelihoods of OVC, but also to the prevention of HIV/AIDS.  OSA realizes this importance, and works with community-based childcare centers (CBCCs) to support and improve early childhood education.

In 2009, OSA partnered with UNICEF and began the Integrated Support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Project (ISOVCP), to improve the quality of care and strengthen early learning and stimulation interventions for children attending CBCCs.  The project focused on providing training and materials to 91 CBCCs and renovations to 10 CBCCs in 10 districts.

By 2010, OSA provided training to 213 caregivers, which increased and improved the ratio of caregivers to children in the CBCCs.  OSA alsosupplied each of the 91 CBCCs with a comprehensive starter kit of appropriate learning and play materials, procured by UNICEF, to improve and increase the children’s learning potential.  In order to improve CBCC hygiene and prevent food contamination, UNICEF funded new cooking utensils, and OSA oversaw CBO distribution of the eating and cooking utensils to all 91 of the CBCCs.  The project also assisted the renovations of 10 CBCCs in 10 districts.  All 10 of the CBCCs were renovated by July 2010.

This partner program helped improve access to services, overcome lack of resources, and boost incentives to provide early childhood education, as well as increase numbers of OVC receiving comprehensive care.