Influence of household food security in the implementation of orphans and vulnerable children programs in Buuri district of Meru county, Kenya
Abstract
The issue of orphans and vulnerable children can no longer be ignored in the present world
if the millennium development goals are to be achieved and more close at home vision 2030.
It is when a child has enough food to eat at all times that they will have good health, are
emotionally secure and can concentrate in their education. This study therefore is based on
influence of household food security in the implementation of orphans and vulnerable
children programs in Buuri District of Meru County. The study is based on four main
objectives related to household food security which are food availability, access to resources
to acquire food, food utilization requirements and stability of food security systems in
relation to the implementation of orphans and vulnerable children programs in Buuri district.
The study focused on OVC in four locations of Buuri division of Buuri District. The District
was sampled for reasons that it is a grain basket, has diverse economic activities, is affected
by severe droughts in equal measure and a number of Non- governmental organizations are
carrying out orphans and vulnerable children interventions programs but achieving their
goals has remained elusive. “Is it that these interventions have not established the
association between household food security in relation to the welfare of OVC?” Descriptive
research design was applied using survey method where a questionnaire was applied to 149
OVC. The data was analyzed and presented through descriptive statistics, but for qualitative
data detailed narrative was used to summarize data on influence of household food security
in the implementation of orphans and vulnerable children programs carried out by various
NGOs in the District. The study found out that there is not enough food available all the
time in households of orphans and vulnerable children in Buuri District. Based on the
research findings and conclusions the study recommended that NGOs and the government
should team up to address the issues of food insecurity in Buuri District in terms of
providing relief food to the orphans and vulnerable children as well as capacity building to
households to be self-sufficient in food security. This will help to ensure that the children
get sufficient food for proper growth and development when their other needs are being
addressed.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Thesis
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [6020]