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Community Projects - HIV/AIDS Affected |
| ...as instructed by Jesus Christ we obey James 1:27: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."[NIV] | At present we care for 150 OVC at a primary school who stay in various environments. With their siblings the total amount of children we care for is ± 280 each month. This specific school has approximately 300 orphan and vulnerable children. If we look at the households these children come from, then there could be as many as 600 OVC. The sad truth is that there are many more people who need help. There are four other primary schools (and two secondary schools) that we have not contacted yet. There are many street children, probably from child headed homes, who roam our streets to try and make a living. Our aim is to get them off the streets, give them a safe place to stay, education and a fighting chance in live. Maybe we can combat crime this way. The only current restriction is finance. |
Our target is to take care of the basic needs of ±560 OVC by the end of 2010 and approximately 1,000 OVC by the end of 2012. Again, our focus is on all the children in the community of Heidelberg no matter what the age, race, gender or tradition.
The most basic need for these children is food. Our goal is to feed each child for less than a R 7.00 (or $1.00) a day. When children have something to eat, the basic need for survival has been taken care of. Kids with food in their tummies are more willing to go to school and receive an education; giving them a better chance in life.
Currently we supply food to the children so they could have three (3) meals each day, as well as clothing where needed. Out target is to increase out efforts and supply basic health services and personal hygiene to the children. We are in the process of recruiting mentors and coaches to assist the children with their homework and also to entertain them with various activities after school. To do this, we need R 250 per child per month.
A breakdown of costs per child is shown in the table.
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To convert South African Rand (ZAR) to your country's currency, use the currency calculator on this link: x-rates.com
| An orphan is described as a child under 18 years of age who has lost their mother (maternal orphan) or both parents (double orphan)
(UNICEF/UNAIDS, 1999) |
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According to South African law vulnerable children are defined as:
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Some shocking facts:
- 81% of the country's children experience income and material deprivation
- More than 50% live in households where nobody is employed
- 77% live in a environment without proper toilet facilities, electricity and piped water
- 24% are in the wrong grade for their age
- 6% are not in school
- >25% live in household without both parents or in child-headed households (OVC - Orphan & vulnerable children)
Why we feed them?
Can you imagine days of:
- Despair
- Hunger
- Loneliness
- Abuse
The simple - but expensive - act of feeding people serves many purposes:
- to prevent starvation and malnutrition;
- to become familiar with family problems - physical and mental abuse, substance abuse, illness, vulnerability, lack of adequate housing, lack of adequate care;
- refer the children to clinics or hospitals; and
- assist with obtaining:
- ID documents;
- Social and child grants; and
- Placement in possible foster Homes.
Economic circumstances and the lack of employment opportunities have resulted in:
- abject poverty;
- the disintegration of the family unit;
- physical and mental abuse and neglect; and
- high unemployment rate
We know that adequate and nutritious food, health, social care and a secure physical environment are critical to protect orphan & vulnerable children from abuse, rain, cold and starvation. We do this by rendering holistic community based care and support programs - we assist and support the children by respecting their rights.
To see our financial needs for this project, click here