Youth And Children Rights Shield Profile

4. Gender and HIV/AIDS Program This program aims at contributing towards the achievement of gender equality in the country as the nation strives to achieve the gender parity in access to education and gender parity in a number of issues. The program takes into consideration the National Gender Policy and all other international declarations Malawi signed with regards to Gender. In the area of HIV/AIDS the program seeks to enhance community mitigation in the impact of HIV/AIDS and increase access to treatment care and support. Strategic strategies include: Community mobilization on gender base violence Sports for health Advocacy and lobbying Research Capacity Building Establishment of HBCs Capacity building for the HBCs KEY THEMATIC ISSUES FOR YOCRIS INTERVENTIONS Youth Leadership development, Child rights , Basic education, HIV/ AIDS, Constitutionalism, Sustainable livelihoods, Orphans, Girl Child empowerment IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES Most of the projects YOCRIS implement use a community-based approach, rights based approach and Participatory methodologies. 1

Community based approach a. Communities are empowered to own their problems and identify solutions to their prob lems within their society. b. Active involvement and participation of the communities in planning, decision making, moni toring, and evaluation in all initiatives that affect them. c. Establishment of community structures where necessary to deal with particular issues.

d. Main streaming of pertinent issues in the existing structures to ensure sustainability 2 Intergrated approach Deliberate efforts are made when designing projects ensuring that many stakeholders and various sectors are involved. This is to ensure sustainability beyond project funded period. 3 Capacity building approach Most of the projects are designed in such a way that there is strong capacity building on members of the community in relevant areas according to he issues under interventions. NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION Youth and children Rights Shield uses advocacy and lobbying as one of its implementing strategies. YOCRIS is a member of many networks at both national, region and district level. The purpose of such network is to add voice to the advocacy and lobbying role it plays in influencing some of the policies. YOCRIS is a member of the following networks. Ø Civil Society Coalition for Quality Basic Education Ø Human Rights Consultative Committee Ø Malawi Reflect Forum (MAREFO) Ø Forum for NGOs in Youth Development (FONYODE) Ø Dedza District Child Protection Committee (Chair person) Ø The Network Against Chuild Trafficking Child labour Network STRUCTURE YOCRIS has a board of Trustees headed by Chairperson. The board provides policy direction and guidance. Below the Board of trustees there is secretariat which is headed by Executive Director The Executive Director provides strategic plan implementation guidance. The Executive Director is supported by project Officers implementing each project. Finance and Administration Officer manages finances.

YOUTH AND CHILDREN RIGHTS SHIELD (YOCRIS)

“To contribute towards the transformation of Malawi Society for the attainment of justice and peace.”

ORGANIZATION PROFILE

CONTACT ADDRESS

PHYSICAL ADDRESS

Executive Director Youth and Children Rights Shield P.O Box 180 Dedza, MALAWI Off Dedza Main Road Tel: 01 223 745 Behind the Dedza main Depot Cell: 09 511 879 E-mail: [email protected]

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Youth and Children Rights Shield is youth oriented Non Governmental Organization and a non-profit making organization founded in 2002. YOCRIS became fully fledged in may 2003. The organization got registered with the Registrar General under the 1996 Incorporation of Trustees Act on 1st August 2003. The organization also got registered with the National Youth Council of Malawi on 4th August 2003. Youth and Children Rights Shield is currently working in the areas of T/A Kachere, Kachindamoto, Tambala and Kaphuka as its impact areas. The areas have population of 105,343, 68,092, 51,711 and 103,622 and respectively (NSO 1998 Malawi Population and Housing census). YOCRIS also works in other Traditional Authority areas within Dedza district others on need base. YOCRIS primary beneficiaries range from the ages 0-25. Age group 26 and above also benefit as secondary beneficiaries. YOCRIS intends to contribute towards building the capacity of young people, preparing and empowering them to face the social economical and political challenges facing the nation so as to take up responsible roles in the society to contribute towards social political and economical development and attainment of justice and peace. VISION A Malawian society in which justice and peace prevails through the transformation of unjust structures and systems, on basis of constitutional and other international legal instruments provisions. MISSION STATEMENT To contribute towards the transformation of Malawi Society for the attainment of justice and peace. OBJECTIVES

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To build the capacity of youth leaders and CBOs to take up positive leading roles in society through appropriate training programs to consolidate the culture of respecting human rights and the fight to eradicate poverty. To enhance youth and community participation in issues that will contribute to the social, political and economic development of their societies To promote positive youth participation and responsible youth leadership in the democratic society and other issues that affects youth welfare. To protect and promote the rights of children and the youth. To embark on programs that prevents the spread of HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health

PROGRAMS 1. Child Rights Protection This is the program that looks at various issues with regards to children rights. The program develops various innovative ways of protecting and promoting the rights of children and the youth based on Convention of the Rights of Children and the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi and other international legal instruments. The program looks at preventing, monitoring and reporting of child rights abuses related issues. This program works towards protecting children from various forms of abuses and exploitation. The following are some of the strategic strategies employed in this project: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Formation of child protection committees Training of child protection committee Training of child rights monitors Child trafficking prevention, monitoring and reporting Social mobilization campaign on Child rights

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Monitoring juvenile justice administration Facilitation of social contracts Advocacy

2. Primary Education Support Initiative This program aims at promoting and protecting the right of children to education since it’s a basic right and one the mostly being violated in most of the rural set ups. The project is promoting rights based approach when dealing with issues that affect access to and quality of basic education of children in communities regardless of sex and gender. The following are some of the strategic strategies employed in the program: 1. Capacity building for community leaders, faith community, opinion leaders and school governing boards through appropriate training programs. 2. Advocacy on issues which are impediments to girls education 3. Social mobilization. 4. Training for transformation 3.

Youth Participation

This program aims at maximizing youth participation in the social, political and economical development of their communities. It seeks to prepare the youth to face the social, political, economical and cultural challenges ahead of them through capacity building. Strategic strategies employed under this program include: 1. Establishment of youth clubs 2. Capacity building training for existing and new youth clubs in number of areas 3. Capacity building trainings for Community Based Organization in a number of areas 4. Agro base activities 5. Entrepreneurship