title: Educating Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya.
abstract: According to UNICEF, 13.3 million children (0-17 years) worldwide have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Nearly 12 million of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa. Together, with other children who have been severely impacted by the AIDS pandemic, these orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) are at higher risk of missing out on schooling, living in households with less food security, and suffering from anxiety and depression. Although the needs of OVC are complex and influenced by numerous variables, the provision of education has the potential to address many aspects of a child's well-being, including food and nutrition, health care, social welfare, and protection. Drawing on data collected using the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Well-being Tool in one area of Kenya, the authors of this study describe their findings on the educational well-being of the surveyed children and present recommendations for teachers on how to better support the diverse needs of OVCs.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Early Childhood and Elementary Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jepkemboi
authors.affiliation: Professor and Director, University of Alabama at Birmingham Minority Health International Research Training Program (MHIRT).
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.affiliation: Student Trainees, University of Alabama at Birmingham Minority Health International Research Training Program (MHIRT).
authors.forename: KaNesha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gillyard
authors.affiliation: Student Trainees, University of Alabama at Birmingham Minority Health International Research Training Program (MHIRT).
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lissanu