Psychosocial Support Model: Addressing the needs of Adolescents working in the Informal Sector

Julian Tracy Alum Head of Department, Social Work

Africa Renewal UniversitySeptember 2015

Presentation Outline

Background Key Terms

Case Example: Market Vendors AIDS Project (MAVAP), Kampala, Uganda Push factors Psychosocial challenges faced by children

working in the informal sector Psychosocial Support Model

Discussion (Question and Answer) Recommendations & Conclusion

Key Terms

Informal Sector “consists of all economic activities outside the

formal institutional framework” • Women constitute about 92% of the informal sector

(World Bank, 2005)

Key Terms

Child Labor Any economic activity performed by a person

under the age of 15 (United Nations, 2008).Child Vendor

A child working in the informal sector (MAVAP, 2011). 2.75 million children aged 5-17 years are engaged in economic

activities (MGLSD, 2012).

State of Children in Uganda

Child Labor risk around the world

Market Vendors AIDS Project (MAVAP)

A Ugandan registered indigenous NGO

Established in 2004 Addresses health

issues affecting workers in the informal sector

Conducted a baseline study about the situation of OVC in market communities

Push factors for children working in the informal sector

Poverty and hard conditions at home

Orphan hood due to HIV/AIDS

To meet basic needs 30.89% were either

working for a vendor, friend or helping parents, siblings and relatives.

Psychosocial Challenges faced by Adolescents working in the informal sector

Miss out on education

Poor working conditions

Physical Injury

Emotional distress

Sexual Harassment

(Kajubi et.al, 2010)

Why Psycho-social Support

Essential element of healthy growth and development of a child and is needed by every child for a balanced psychological and emotional wellbeing, as well as their physical and mental development.

Builds resilience of children to positively cope with traumatic and difficult situations

Builds internal and external resources for children and their families (MAVAP, 2012).

Psychosocial Support Program Plan

• Training of 50 child mentors and 150 caregivers on positive parenting

• Identify and link children to psychosocial referral centers

• Conduct home visits

• Compile a child vendor’s journal by 2011

• Hold 1 Christmas party for 200 children

• Refresher training of 50 child mentors in mentorship and psychosocial support(DII, 2012)

Process Evaluation Framework

Key Component Actual Implementation

Psycho-social

Support

 Selected 50 mentors who were paired with 200

child vendors

 Conducted 3 trainings in psycho-social support for

OVC care (50 mentors & 172 caregivers trained)

Designed and distributed child mentors Handbook

 144 children attended a Christmas party

 Conducted routine home & market visits

 114 child vendors attended 4 psychosocial

support meetings organized

Performance matrix for the OVC components

Key Components Rating and score

Excellent

=4.0

Good

= 3.0

Acceptabl

e

= 2.0

Margina

l

= 1.0

Poor

=0.0

Education 4        

Health   3      

Socio-economic

Empowerment

    2    

Psycho-social Support   3      

Child Protection       1  

Capacity building 4        

Child Mentor-Child Vendor Relationship

Strengths perspective (Gamble & Weil, 2010)

• Mentoring

∞ The vision for the Child vendors mentoring is, “to empower and equip child vendors to realize their full potential in the communities”

∞ Mentor• Usually a trusted adult,

supporter, role model, counselor (MAVAP, 2012)

Recommendations

Closely work with children, families & caregivers

Holistic Approach

Strengthen existing networks

Thank you!!