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South Africa is one of the worst affected countries in the world, as far as the HIV/AIDS epidemic goes. It is believed that the virus currently infects 4.5 to 5.5 million South African people, out of a total population of 44.8 million. In 2001, UNAIDS (United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS) estimated that 20.1% of the 15-49 years old were carrying the virus.
The dramatic increase of the number of orphans, as a direct consequence of the pandemic, is often forgotten. According to UNAIDS estimates, the total number of AIDS orphans reached 1’100’000 in 2003. The projections show that in 2010, more than 1’700’000 children could be AIDS orphans, that is 74% of the total number of orphans. One must understand that most AIDS orphans are not infected themselves.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic leaves behind a devastating trail of suffering and despair. Family structures are destroyed and income flows disappear. Even before death stage, children are most hit by the consequences of the disease. Their schooling, health, and socialisation processes are at stake. More globally, the human and financial losses incurred through the pandemic put the young South African democracy at risk.
Considering the scale of the pandemic, institutional care of these orphans cannot be a sustainable solution. The solution lies at community level.
Despite or due to the limited capacity of the South African government, community-based organisations have mobilised themselves and their community to find innovative solutions to the problems created by the pandemic, and particularly to help AIDS orphans. However, these pro-active and motivated informal teams often lack financial and technical capacities to achieve their potential. Children of the Dawn has been created to change this situation. We take a community approach to orphan and vulnerable children care, by empowering communities in their mobilisation around affected children.
Children of the Dawn has been created to change this situation. We take a community approach to orphan and vulnerable children care, by empowering communities in their mobilisation around affected children.
At present, Children of the Dawn sponsors more than 150 children aged 4 to 18 in three rural communities of the Limpopo and the Free State Province: Mathabatha, Kgautswane, Bushbuckridge and Phuthaditjhaba. The sponsorship programme is run on the ground by three dedicated local community-based organisations. About 70% of the sponsored children are orphans or living with a HIV-positive parent.
Children of the Dawn strives to take a holistic approach in supporting orphans and vulnerable children within their own communities. In effect, Children of the Dawn looks at fulfilling the whole spectrum of children’s needs: education, nutrition, health, safety, moral and psychological issues, life skills, maintaining of family units, community integration, integration in the wider community… and having fun. Children of the Dawn encourages communities to take initiative and responsibility for answering children’s needs.
At the heart of Children of the Dawn’s model lie the aftercare centres or drop-in centres. Through its partners in the three communities, Children of the Dawn presently operates seven of these informal day centres, which welcome the sponsored children several times a week. When at the centre, children are fed, helped in their homework, educated in life skills, hygiene and health issues, and given moral and emotional support.
Aside from the aftercare centres, network support teams have been created around each child. These informal support entities comprise of extended families, neighbours, teachers, social workers, small businesses and are meant to integrate and keep the orphans or vulnerable children within their community.
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