The International HIV/AIDS Alliance has just published a new report: "Building
Blocks in Practice - Participatory Tools to Improve the Development of Care and
Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children". This publication contains seven sets
of tools, corresponding to the seven topics in the "Building Blocks: Africa-wide
Briefing Notes": overview, education, health and nutrition, psychosocial support,
social inclusion, economic strengthening, and supporting older carers. These are
designed to support communities working in partnership with non-governmental
organisations, community or faith-based organisations or with a trusted community
member. They focus on different issues connected with improving the community care
and support provided to orphans and other vulnerable children.
 
The tools answer questions that fall into five groups:
- What do we want for the children in our community and what do they need?
- What is the current situation of the children in our community and how are their
needs being met at present?
- What are the most important barriers to improving the situation of children in our
community and can these be prioritised?
- What resources for the support of vulnerable children exist in the community
(human, material, policy, etc)?
- What action can we take and how can we improve what we are doing already?
 
"Building Blocks in Practice" is designed to help facilitators, together with
community members including children, put into practice the ideas outlined in the
Building Blocks: Africa-wide Briefing Notes (published by the Alliance in 2003). [Source: CRIN]
 
For more information, contact:
 
Alliance Publications and Communications Team
International HIV/AIDS Alliance
Queensberry House, 104-106 Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3XF, UK
Tel: + 44 1273 718 900; Fax: + 44 1273 718901
Email: publications@aidsalliance.org
Website: www.aidsalliance.org