Be part of the Community Orphanage
The Guardian Parent Association (GPA) is a group of guardians and parents hosting orphans and vulnerable children who agree to come together as a community, to enhance the wellbeing of the children in their care. It also serves as the community component of LINK-UP.
The Guardian Parent Association (GPA) is a community of parents and guardians of orphans and vulnerable children. As a Self Help Support Group (SHSG), it serves as the community component of LINK-UP through which orphans and vulnerable children are easily identified and assisted as well as their host communities.
The Guardian Parent Association. (Community orphanage through home based care)
The Guardian Parent Association (GPA) is a group of guardians and parents hosting orphans and vulnerable children who agree to come together as a community, to enhance the wellbeing of the children in their care. It also serves as the community component of LINK-UP,
The Guardian Parent Association (GPA) is a community of parents and guardians of orphans and vulnerable children. As a Self Help Support Group (SHSG), it serves as the community component of LINK-UP through which orphans and vulnerable children are easily identified and assisted as well as their host communities.
This is the community support structure of LINK-UP, made up of the host of orphans and vulnerable children, sponsors or guardians in a locality. They come together as a group in a locality to defend the cause of OVC and to enhance their economic wellbeing by themselves.
They require community support as done to orphanages.
They establish guiding principles or bye laws that govern their activities. Their activities range from identifying the neediest children in their community; identify those exposed to the worst forms of domestic abuses, trafficking etc. And ensure that, their wellbeing is improved, those who need to be returned to their families, are assisted in collaboration with the Social Centres or workers in their area.
Ensure that, those in school have the basic requirements to learn in school or a trade or skill.
LINK-UP community based programs, are implemented through this GPA
Child poverty is a universal problem with devastating consequences on children and societies. Poor children with little or no opportunities to develop their full potentials grow up into adults lacking in basic knowledge and skills to be productive citizens and this perpetuates the vicious cycle of poverty by producing more poor children. The adoption system for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) is opaque and with no foster care services, many of these children in need of care are missed out of such opportunities. It is difficult to break this vicious cycle of poverty, without help from outside the family. Hence, join us and be part of the Community Orphans and vulnerable children Support System, directly through LINK-UP or one of its community support structures, either through the Guardian Parent Association (GPA) and/or a Self Help Development Group. (SHDG)
While waiting for the government to step up, and assume its responsibility over such children through appropriate policies and programs, the Guardian Parent Program, has been developed by LINK-UP over the last 20 years, to connect such children to goodwill sponsors.
There are many persons, homes or families with a heart of love and the means to care for a child in need as well as there are many children in need of care and love.
Hence, LINK-UP is promoting the Guardian Parent Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), built on the natural African family and community support system, and on the adage – it takes a village to raise a child. And based on the spirit of “Unbuntu” – (We are because you are) we are welcoming interested Guardian Parents and Child Sponsors to indicate their interests by registering to raise a child in need.
We are also inviting corporate institutions with friendly Corporate Social Responsibility policies for OVC, to join us in building and strengthening this guardian child care system.
Through the GPA, the focus is on;
• Assisting school aged children who cannot attend school or are about to leave school due to insufficient means.
• Assist children who are at risk of becoming homeless, leaving school,
or exploited due to the death or absence of parents or guardians
• Assist children who are victims of child abuse.
• Assist internally displaced children and families
• Assist children and families who are victims of armed conflicts
Services provided will include (but not limited to)
• School fees, books, uniforms, and other school supplies
• Clothing and shoes
• Health related services
• Preservation of legal documents (such as wills or birth certificates)
• Nutritional support
• Reconnect unaccompanied and displaced children with their families
• Promote income generating activities
LINK-UP, its Resident Representatives and GPA executives monitor the progress of children and families assisted by the organization and report on their progress to sponsors, partners and authourities concerned.