Ray of Hope
Posted by Priscilla Macy on November 7, 2008
Ray of Hope office in Livingstone, ZA
Brief History
- Ray of Hope is a community based organization which started in 1998 by a group of men and women who realized the need to assist orphaned children who had lost their parents through HIV/AIDS related illness and left their families in abject poverty forcing children into streets in search of food and money for their survival.
- Since inception, Ray of Hope has been committed to meeting the needs of children by introducing and reintroducing them into schools, paying for school fees, requirements (e.g. uniforms, pencils) and providing food and clothing. More recently, the organization focuses on directly empowering households and caretakers economically, which has been most effective support for vulnerable children and their families.
Mission Statement
- Ray of Hope shall endeavor to empower vulnerable families with small loans to enhance improved household economic and food security to benefit the children.
Experience in Community Based Projects
- Since inception of the organization, Ray of Hope has given members experience in collaborating with other stakeholders dealing in OVC (orphan and vulnerable children) work.
- Ray of Hope has mobilized and trained hundreds of community caregivers in basic business management and many (by 2007: 2,065) OVCs have benefited from the revolving loan scheme project.
- Ray of Hope has been sensitizing the community on HIV/AIDS awareness through drama, cell groups participatory discussions on HIV/AIDS, Choir festivals, launch of OVC newspaper (510 youths attended), children camping (30 attended), inter-school quiz (145 pupils participated).
- Ray of Hope empowers child headed homes with life coping skills and small revolving loans are given to start a living. The revolving loan fund given to them as capital is not enough for a reasonable business, but now we are able to see that even a small amount can mean a lot to a life of a child in the community.
- The organization has extended its activities to districts which are deep in the rural areas
Market stand of Ray of Hope recipient
Challenges
- Funds to cope with an increased demand for resources to help vulnerable children.
- Poverty levels in Zambia continue to be very high, forcing OVC’s to go into the streets and engage in prostitution
- Recently, Ray of Hope’s district has seen an increase of female street traders from neighboring countries- the result is the continuing spread of HIV/AIDS
- Need to procure relevant incentives to motivate voluntary workers who are not on payroll
- Transport to effectively carry out projects, especially to rural areas where conditions demand a four-wheel-drive vehicle
How GSGC funds were used in 2008
Ray of Hope received US$9,740 from the GSGC in the last quarter of 2007. The majority of the funds were used to provide micro-loans for the caretakers of orphans and OVCs. These funds helped:
- children access basic needs and services from their families
- caregivers were able to send their children to school from the money they made from their small businesses
- provide a steady flow of income to meet the needs of households
- Some of the funds were used to help Ray of Hope cover some administrative costs which is helping them to manage their programs more effectively. Funds went to pay for six months of rent and to purchase a computer and some office furniture.
- Some of the funds also were used for Ray of Hope to provide training for Tusa Munyandi’s leaders on the computer. This is the first training that they had received training of this kind.
“Economic empowerment has proved to be an effective service. These projects have brought the beginning of true self sustainability for our community.”
