With an estimated 660 000 orphaned children (UNAIDS, 2001) in South Africa, the need to provide care and support for orphans has never been stronger. In partnership with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF), USAID/South Africa provides assistance to mobilize communities in the care and support of children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

This project aims to strengthen vulnerable households using a multi-sectoral approach that links health, legal, education, food, and livelihood systems with government programs, as well as providing direct services and advising on those services. NMCF and its grantees work with community support organizations, including women’s groups, schools, youth clubs, churches, burial societies, traditional leaders and local government to facilitate support for the organizations and, in turn, to the household. The project has a strong focus on influencing risky behaviours to prevent new infections within the communities where it works, such as through condom promotion, dissemination of STI information and referrals for VCT and PMCTC.

To date, this program has helped train more than 700 partners (home based care professionals, care workers, care supporters, counsellors, STI/child care) and reached 5000 children and child-headed households.

Under this same program, USAID/South Africa also supports Zodwa’s House, a home for orphaned children managed by the Salvation Army. Through a comprehensive approach to caring for HIV-infected individuals which includes care, accommodation for abandoned babies, and a family health programme for AIDS awareness, the Salvation Army offers needed respite to the epidemic’s most vulnerable victims.

For more information on the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, please visit: www.nelsonmandelachildrensfund.com.

For more information on the Salvation Army, please visit: www.salvationarmyusa.org