Traditional cultural structures and community elders advocate for care and support of widows and orphans living with HIV. In some Kenyan communities, widows and orphans infected with or affected by HIV were denied inheritance and services. USAID conducted workshops to build capacity of the Luo Council of Elders to support these groups. Over 50 widows and 200 orphans were resettled, stigma was reduced, and livelihoods and quality of life improved through this intervention.

1. TRADITIONAL CULTURAL STRUCTURES
AND COMMUNITY ELDERS AS STRONG
ADVOCATES FOR CARE AND SUPPORT
OF WIDOWS AND ORPHANS LIVING
WITH HIV
By: Dorothy Odhiambo
Mexico, August 6, 2008

2. • Some Kenyan communities have a tradition of denying
widows and orphans infected and affected by HIV and
AIDS the right to inheritance and access to services.
• HIV and AIDS pandemic has compounded the problem by
causing massive destitution, displacements, blame-
passing and mistrust in most communities.
• The situation is worse for HIV- positive widows and OVC
who are disinherited by kinsmen
• Forceful eviction, poor quality of health, emotional and
psychological trauma, loss of livelihood, stigma and
discrimination, increased vulnerability to HIV infection,
human rights abuses.
2. Issue

3. 3. Interventions
• USAID/Health policy Initiative task order 1:
• Conducted a series of capacity building workshops for
cultural structures through Luo Council of Elders ( LCE)
• Institutional strengthening , training for community
groups in OVC care and support, legal issues,
inheritance rights, monitoring and referral for rights
abuse cases & arbitration
• Established linkages with Government structures
through provincial administration ,Children’s
department, Solicitor general for legal redress,
settlement of disinherited OVC and widows

4. Results and Lessons learnt
• Over 50 widows and 200 OVC resettled
• Inclusion of the LCE in Local Area Advisory councils
and land tribunals
• Empowerment of OVC and widows to speak out
• Advocacy against Stigma and discrimination
• Increased livelihood and improved quality of life
• Reductions in social tensions and improved support
to OVC
• Using LCE was more effective and appropriate.

5. Stories from the Field

6. 5. Conclusions and Way Forward
• Break through in addressing sensitive cultural issues
• Reduction of social tensions and improved
community support for vulnerable groups
• Replication of program in other provinces
• Need to further strengthen capacity of Traditional
structures in addressing legal issues of OVC
• Strengthen women’s ability to advocate to inherit
property
• Build capacity for income generation, livelihood skills
for OVC and Widows living with HIV and AIDS.

7. 5. Conclusions and Way Forward
• Break through in addressing sensitive cultural issues
• Reduction of social tensions and improved
community support for vulnerable groups
• Replication of program in other provinces
• Need to further strengthen capacity of Traditional
structures in addressing legal issues of OVC
• Strengthen women’s ability to advocate to inherit
property
• Build capacity for income generation, livelihood skills
for OVC and Widows living with HIV and AIDS.