AID grant agreement no. 520-0409-G-00-1297-00 with World Share/Guatemala to assist the on-going `child in need project" which helps thousands of children who have been orphaned or abandoned

The project, which will be implemented mainly through subgrants to local PVO"s, will strengthen the ability of targeted families, group homes, and community services to better care for these at-risk children. WS/G will establish a Fund to support (via grants or interest- free loans) subprojects of Guatemalan PVOs and community committees -- with preference given to those currently providing viable and sustainable services for disadvantaged children. These subprojects will probably include: (1) training for caregivers, professionals, and support staff; (2) program design and development; (3) programs for procuring and distributing basic commodities; (4) nutrition and health education programs (including those for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and the promotion of family planning); (5) first aid, primary health, and medical care programs; (6) formal and nonformal educational programs and programs for early childhood stimulation; (7) programs promoting productive skills, income generation, and self-sufficiency; (8) support for at-risk families, foster families, orphanages, training centers, outreach programs, transition homes, and daily care/group homes; (9) a system of information exchange and inter-PVO communications; and (10) public awareness and education activities. Secondly, WS/G, working with Project Concern International and possibly other international PVO"s, will organize TA and training for participating PVO"s and community committees. This component will have 3 types of activities. First, an on-going program of workshops, conferences, and annual gatherings will facilitate coordination and the exchange of information, materials, and resource persons between participating PVO"s. Secondly, funds will be budgeted for more specific TA and training needs of individual PVO"s; TA to newer PVO"s requiring a full range of assistance may be funded as "institutional strengthening" subprojects. Finally, a reporting system will be established to help monitor project results.