Programs - Grani Project - Granny Support Initiative

GRANI Project - (Strengthening Grandmothers’ Resilience and Nurturing Initiative)

The impact of HIV and AIDS is most evident on the large population of orphans and vulnerable children left struggling for survival.In the absence of parents, the burden of caring for orphans often shifts to grandparents and older siblings and sometimes relatives most of whom are already living below the poverty line even before they take on the burden of caring for the orphans. The Grani Project; Granny support initiative was started in 2000 based on WEMIHS experience in the delivery of care and support to OVC and most affected households which revealed that: 

• About 60% of the orphans enrolled in HIV/AIDS care and support program were under the care of aged grandmothers.
• It was difficult to improve the lives of OVC without addressing the wellbeing of the aged care providers most of whom were in critical need of basic essentials mainly; health care, food, adequate shelter, clothing,
• Most grannies were still grieving the loss of their sons and daughters and were overwhelmed by the demand of care and support for young children and adolescents.
• Grannies have to deal with community exclusion related with; discrimination and stigma associated with HIV and AIDS, age and poverty.

Project Goal:

To improve the capacity of aged grandmothers in coping with the burden of orphans affected by HIV and AIDS.

Approach:
The GRANI project adopts a holistic and empowering approach that focuses on improving the wellbeing of grannies and their physical, emotional, social and economic capacity to cope with the demand for care and support services presented for orphans and vulnerable children.

Key outcomes of GRANI interventions:

• Rebuilding confidence and mobilizing inner resourcefulness of individual grannies: and maximizing on indigenous knowledge and practice to improve on feeding, hygiene and access to health care services. 
• Inclusiveness: grannies groups and networks now strengthened for greater social cohesion and solidarity needed to help them better deal with common challenges, shared learn and advocacy.
• Empowering with new information and skills for improved: food production, small income generating activity,  advocacy for services and social safety nets for the aged and OVC 
• Strengthening grannies solidarity: through well managed groups and networks 
• Strategic partnership and linkages e.g.; with key players such as hospitals, schools, church, community leaders etc. 

Key Accomplishments

• 102 grannies ages 57- 87 years caring for OVC aged 5-15 years have been strengthened.
• Over 80% increase access to treatment, healthy and hygiene education and referral  through mobile clinics conducted to reach grannies
• granny groups mentored on a range of skill now demonstrate; improve governance of their group management, increased number of effective revolving funds and greater access to funding opportunities from key actors   
• A total of 18 group therapies already conducted with each granny accessing at least 3 sessions
• A network of grannies formed and working to inform policy makers on agreed priority concerns.

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