Building Resilience, Addressing Vulnerability

Through the USAID/Higa Ubeho program ("be determined and live"), CHF is working to reduce the risk and impact of HIV/AIDS and other health problems of the most vulnerable populations in Rwanda, especially people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC), and their families. The aim of the program is to build the capacity of local institutions to provide services to vulnerable populations by promoting health-seeking behavior, access to key services such as education and psychosocial support, building family-level assets, and improving food security.

USAID/Higa Ubeho builds upon the accomplishments of the USAID/PEPFAR program which CHF has implemented since 2005. Successful outcomes of that program include:

• More than 170,000 people reached through HIV/AIDS prevention messages

• Nearly 40,000 orphans and vulnerable children received health and nutrition education, clinical services, and school supplies and uniforms so that they can continue their education

• Over 26,500 people received palliative care services, including counseling, nutrition, home care and hospital-related support

• Over 3,000 men and women have been trained in providing HIV and AIDS-related palliative care services

• Over 1,000 child-headed households received vocational training and donations of basic necessities

To learn more download the USAID/Higa Ubeho factsheet.

Promoting Cooperative Development for Sustainability

CHF is also helping to expand economic opportunities for vulnerable populations by promoting cooperative development. CHF is helping HIV-affected individuals develop new productive enterprises and services through cooperative activities. By encouraging beneficiaries to form for-profit cooperatives, they can pursue employment-generating activities and ensure they become financially sustainable. CHF teaches these newly formed cooperative enterprises how to pool their resources, improve their production skills, and better market their products.

Protecting Local Habits with Fuel Efficient Stoves

With funding from the Disney Foundation, CHF is helping provide families in Rwanda with fuel efficient stoves. The stoves are locally produced and distributions will target children-headed households and other vulnerable groups. Fuel efficient stoves use significantly less wood, which confers multiple advantages. Households will not need to spend as much time searching for and collecting firewood, freeing family members to spend time on more productive activities. Additionally fewer trees will need to be cut down or destroyed benefiting the environment.