Our Voices Matter (OVM) Programme
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Article 12, guarantees every child the right to a healthy, safe and sustainable future as well as the right to be heard on issues and decisions that will affect that future. Over 50% of Young people globally resides in Africa – therefore, nurturing their future is not only necessary but paramount. More needs to be done to localize the rights of the child at the grassroots level. Awareness alone cannot inspire active citizenship among children in communities, children need platforms to deliberate with and participate in their own development. Giving agency back to children can only be seen in their active participation and contributions to making communities safer.
OCOF HHC SA seeks to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals especially SDG 16 which addresses the promotion of peace and inclusive societies providing access to justice for all and ensuring child safeguarding by responding to the social, emotional, economic consequences of family breakdown on children, their families and the communities that support them.
The goal of the OCOF HHC SA Our Voices Matter (OVM) program is for children and youth to have a say about issues and decisions that concern them, gain new skills, and develop a closer connection to their community where they will feel safe and empowered.
The OCOF HHC SA OVM project seeks to improve the well-being of children and youth by mitigating the impact of family breakdown reducing their risk and vulnerability, and increasing their resilience and likelihood of growing up to be healthy, educated, and socially well-adjusted adults. The OVM project is a prevention and early intervention tool to ensure that care reform is owned by families in communities strengthening their capacity to address issues at multiple levels of government and community.