The HIV/AIDS epidemic has devastated Sub-Saharan Africa leaving millions of Africans living with the disease as well as hundreds of thousands of HIV/AIDS orphans. Furthermore, educational advancements have been greatly weakened as a result of AIDS related problems, foremost being a major increase in poverty and the inability to pay for school. In the “Education Sector Policy on HIV and AIDS” launched by the Kenya Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in September 2004, states that “The sector and its institutions are expected, as much as possible, to assist OVC, learners who are ill or with special needs so that they are able to continue with education” (p. 21-23). Therefore, in order to encourage educational institutions to assist Kenyan HIV/AIDS orphans to complete their education, and with the belief that such education will help reduce the risk of infection, the U.S. Government has been awarding school scholarships to qualified students since December 2005 to December 2013.
The scholarships are funded from the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR). The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR/Emergency Plan) was a commitment of $15 billion over five years (2003–2008) as approved by congress to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. PEPFAR is the largest commitment ever by a single nation toward an international health initiative — a comprehensive approach to combating HIV/AIDS around the world. The program initially aimed to provide treatment to 2 million HIV-infected people, to prevent 7 million new infections, and to support care for 10 million people (the "2–7–10 goals") by 2010.
In July, 2008, PEPFAR was renewed, revised and expanded as the "Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008". The expansion more than triples the initiative's funds, to $48 billion through 2013.
The overall objective of the USAID Kenya OVC scholarship project is for OVCs to access and complete a quality secondary and or, middle level college and or university education. The scholarships will cover tuition, uniforms, textbooks, boarding, school and boarding supplies, mock and exam fees if applicable, research and the cost of practicum and miscellaneous fees such as transport (LT& T); repairs and maintenance (RMI); electricity, water & conservancy (EWC); medical; activity; caution money and development projects for the school years 2009-2013.
This has been made possible through the generous support and contribution of the American People a gesture that should be replicated by Kenyans at home and in the Diaspora to make it possible for the thousands of HIV and AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children to go to school and better their lives and those of their siblings and extended families.
The project targets Orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) from all districts in the country who are enrolled in secondary school, middle level colleges and universities. The emergency plan focuses on those increased vulnerabilities due to HIV/AIDS and defines “OVC” in the following way: a child who is either orphaned, or made more vulnerable because of HIV/ AIDS. An orphan has lost either one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. Vulnerable is HIV- Positive; lives without adequate adult support (e.g. in a household with chronically ill parents, a household that has experienced a recent death from chronic illness, a household headed by a grandparent and/or a household headed by a child); lives outside of a family care (e.g. in a residential care or on the streets); or is marginalised, stigmatised or discriminated against.
OVCs are at an increased risk of suffering psychological distress, economic hardships, exploitation, and trafficking and of HIV infection. In particular, girls in the developing world often face special vulnerability to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its effects. Because of this vulnerability, the Emergency Plan focuses special attention on girls and their special needs. For too many children, education has been a casualty of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. To address this problem, PEPFAR supports programs to assist children to attend school, while also linking with other programs to address difficulties in the educational sector due to HIV/AIDS. PEPFAR also supports prevention education for in-school and out-of-school youth. Ensuring OVC access to essential services, including education is an essential part of PEPFAR.
Since December 2005 to December 2008, USAID supported 1,836 OVCs. Out of the 1,836, approximately 1,000 successfully completed their education in December 2008 and 800 continue to receive support from USAID. It is anticipated that the number of students to be supported over the next five years will be approximately 3,300 beneficiaries and this means that 2,500 new beneficiaries have been identified and admitted in the program. Of the planned awarded scholarships, approximately 80 percent will be for secondary school, 10 percent for tertiary and middle level college and 10 percent for university.
PricewaterhouseCoopers have been contracted by USAID to manage the PEPFAR Scholarships.
|
