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| Feeding
& Identifying Malnourished Children: Distribution of food: Children are either fed at these centres, or food is distributed daily to schools and communities by van, bicycle or tri-cars. 14 000 meals are distributed daily. Children who areable to, pay 40c daily for two slices of brown bread with peanut butter and 1litre of skimmed milk or cheese. (World Health Organization minimum nutritional requirement). The ACFS also distributes 1 000 donated monthly food parcels. Screening of children: Children in need are identified by ACFS staff who screen approximately 280,000 children annually for malnutrition and other observable signs of disease, or children come to, or are referred to the centres (eg by Hospice, schools). |
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Education program Nutrition education There is a strong link between nutrition, health and HIV/AIDS. Poor nutrition reduces immunity, speeds progression of disease and increases its severity. To be effective anti-retroviral treatment requires good nutritional status. Health & care education Basic training on breaking the silence, stigma & shame of HIV/AIDS, on prevention of the illness and on anti-retroviral treatment is offered. So far 750 people been trained to educate others under the Ubuntu campaign including 65 care givers. They give educational talks or workshops to people at grass roots level, to teachers and learners at schools, to women’s and men’s organizations, to youth groups, and to church communities (eg Stokvels, Burial Societies, etc). The focus is to raise the level of awareness in order to change attitudes, to promote concern, provide care and love for those infected and affected, to assist communities to better understand, and become more sympathetic and supportive of HIV/AIDS sufferers. Since 1999, ACFS has given about 7500 talks reaching about 1.4 million people in total in State schools. |
| Toddler
crèches ACFS runs three crèches offering preschool activities for approximately 130 OVC between the ages of 2 and 6 years. |
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Many of these orphaned children are HIV+. The children are cared for by child minders who feed them and engage them in basic preschool activities and stimulation with limited facilities. |
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| Tsogo
and Stella, two increadible women, with strong charisma, surrounded
by 45 orphins at the Zola Centre, teaching them basic words, and songs. Children are dressed in cute outfits, made by the mothers' club. |
| Food
gardening Food gardening has been developed in most centres where community members are taught by Foods Gardens Unlimited to grow vegetables for their own consumption and sale. |
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| Gardening
has become a relaxing activity for women, meeting eachother, with
a rewarding feeling of getting healthy food from their work. Climate allows up to 3 crops per year. Women are taught to develop gardens in metal boxes, so that anyone can start a small garden in from of his shack. |
| Care
Giving This program is dedicated to both Aids orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and child-headed families under the “Care for Children Program” (CCP). It is headed by a dedicated social worker who has trained care givers and members of the ACFS township committees to work with her. It is estimated that 60 more women will need to be trained to fulfill this role. Where possible arrangements are made for an Ubuntu orientated close neighbour to volunteer to oversee the children’s daily welfare. Infected or ill children are referred to hospital and treatment is supervised once at home. Basic psychological counseling is offered. It is important to protect these very vulnerable children from abuse (sexual, drug, alcohol, etc.) Material assistance, if available, is given for additional food, school fees, toiletries, clothing etc. |
Mothers’ Clubs Women meet at the ACFS premises to benefit from the feeding and education programs as previously described, and in their leisure time are taught basic skills (e.g. sewing, beading) to enable them to generate some income. They also cultivate vegetables. A special attention is given to grandmothers havong to look after orphin grandchidren. Women or guardians from extended families are invited to join the mothers’ clubs for further education. Children also use the premises for feeding, preschool activities, to play or to do homework. |
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| Echo-of-hope
has been developping a collection of objects in order to develop the
income generating initiative within the mothers'club, including bottle
neaklesses and decorated place mats. Discover this collection: Click here |
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Administration support |
Malebese