In Ethiopia, 13 per cent of children throughout the country are missing one or both parents. This represents an estimated 4.6 million children – 800,000 of whom were orphaned by HIV/AIDS (UNICEF). From its many years of experience with institutional childcare, SMCF and its Ethiopian partner JeCCDO know that orphanages are not the best way to care for the growing number of vulnerable children. Over the last 15 years, JeCCDO has developed a community-based approach so vulnerable children are card for and supported in their family and community settings. The programme is overseen at the local level by a specially recruited committee of a range of community members, who are aware of the needs in the community. Typically the project will include the following elements: Psychosocial support. This consists of providing: essential clothing (including school uniform) and shoes once a year; educational materials such as exercise books, pencils, pens, etc to help the children attend school; pocket money; medical support; and counselling focusing on behavioral issues, health, education and family life to help children deal with their loss. Reintegration of older children: This activity provides vocational training or higher education support for older vulnerable children helping them to earn a living and support their community. Skill training is provided at local vocational skill training centers and students who successfully complete their course are helped to find a job or start their own business. For children who gain places for higher education, their fees and living costs are paid. Economic empowerment of guardians: A vital part of the programme, this component enhances the social and economic capacity of guardians, the overwhelming majority of whom are single women, to take care of their charges. Guardians are given a short course in small business management, saving, bookkeeping, loan repayment, and marketing. They are then provided with working capital in the form of a revolving fund, which is administered by a community committee set up to oversee the programme. Strengthening the whole community. In each area where this programme runs, JeCCDO brings the community together to elect members to a Community Development Association (CDA). The CDA then takes forward all development activities from selecting which children will most benefit from support to developing and implementing projects to benefit the whole community, such a house renevation, providing water points, shower and toilet block, etc. JeCCDO provides the resources and technical support to enable this. It also trains a number of volunteers who follow up the progress of children and their guardians, and help them access guidance and counseling. Psychosocial Support £6,000 Reintegration of older children £ 810 Economic Empowerment of guardians £ 5,070 CDA development and support £1,510 Project monitoring, central costs £1,610 Total £15,000