International faith based organizations + local churches + local faith and community based organizations = program success

A coalition of ten faith-based agencies led by World Concern Development Organization implemented a PEPFAR funded project from 2004 to 2010 for supporting HIV and AIDS affected and infected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Kenya, Zambia and Haiti. It mobilized volunteers from local churches, faith based and community based organizations. These volunteers received training and provided a variety of support to OVC in their communities. Local faith based organizations and churches played a key role in identifying the volunteers, linking the project to local resources, and providing guidance and advice on program approaches. The project enabled 39,106 caregivers and families to better care for 153,000 OVC in their communities; provided training and mentoring to 6,759 older OVC (ages 15-17) to meet their own needs; facilitated formal and vocational education for 27,943 OVC; and raised awareness among 6.5 million people including church and community members to reduce stigma and increase support toward OVC. The authors believe that the faith based coalition of the non-profit, non-government organizations was readily accepted by local churches and faith and community based organizations, which gave the implementing partners a wide access to their members. The faith based approach to programming facilitated the project's many initiatives. An in depth study might be useful in examining the factors that led to the success of the project.