Parental illness and death have profound effects on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of children and youth. The past decade has seen an increase in programming and resource mobilization to provide support for children and adolescents impacted by HIV and AIDS in South Africa. However, many of these efforts have focused on children’s material and educational needs, and little has been documented about programs that may be working to address psychological health.
This case study aims to contribute to the knowledge base on OVC programming by documenting the activities of Heartbeat’s Tswelopele training and mentoring program, which aims to build capacity among community-based organizations (CBOs) working to improve the lives of OVC.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the world. Addressing GBV and HIV is a priority in both the government and non-governmental sectors, and there is an urgent need for research that identifies effective programming and best practices for the South African context. This case study aims to contribute to the growing knowledge base on interventions addressing GBV by documenting the activities carried out by the Greater Rape Intervention Program (GRIP), which offers a range of support services to survivors of GBV in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, including psychological support and medical and legal assistance.
Physical growth and cognitive development during the first five years of a child’s life can have profound effects on lifetime educational achievement and economic potential, and early developmental delays may perpetuate intergenerational cycles of poverty. The past decade has seen an increase in resource mobilization for early childhood development (ECD) programs in South Africa targeting the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children, but there has been relatively little systematic research to document these efforts.
This case study documents the activities and services of one program, Childline Mpumalanga, working to address the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children, their families and communities. Since its inception in 2003, Childline Mpumalanga has sought to prevent child abuse and protect and promote the welfare of all children throughout Mpumalanga province.
This case study focuses on an innovative model of support for OVC program careworkers, Care for Caregivers (C4C). C4C operates as a service within the Isibindi service delivery program. The National Association of Child Care Workers (NACCW) implements Isibindi at 65 sites throughout South Africa, directing support to OVC and their families through a developmental child and youth care work response. The program partners with local organizations, recruiting and training a network of child and youth care workers (CYCWs) who conduct regular home visits to beneficiaries and oversee activities at Safe Parks and community gardens.
This report details the Integrated AIDS Program-Thika (IAP-Thika), supported by Pathfinder International — and identifies lessons learned that could be applied to other initiatives. IAP-Thika has a number of objectives ranging from increasing the number of people accessing voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services to building the capacity of youth and the community at large to address issues related to HIV and AIDS by raising awareness and decreasing stigma and discrimination.
This case study offers an in-depth study of the Tumaini Home-Based Care Program model and identifies lessons learned that could be applied to other initiatives. While the Tumaini program addresses the needs of both people living with HIV as well as OVC, the case study is focused on specific services for highly vulnerable children, and their effects. The Tumaini model draws upon the potential of civil service organizations to respond to the needs of children, youth and families.
This case study describes the Salvation Army’s (TSA) Mama Mkubwa Psychosocial Support Program model, including challenges, successes, lessons learned and the way forward. The case study and report are focused on the program components that aim to strengthen community responses to the needs of vulnerable children and their families and provide psychosocial support for OVC.
This case study focuses on Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) OVC program model in Kenya and documents lessons learned that could be applied to other OVC initiatives. The Kilifi OVC project of CRS program aims to increase the capacity of communities and families and orphans to respond to the needs of OVC and increase local partner agencies’ capacity to deliver high quality and sustainable interventions. To accomplish these goals, CRS collaborates with the Archdiocese of Mombasa by providing technical and financial support.
This case study is a review of U.S. Pathfinder in Kenya’s OVC program model and documents lessons learned. Pathfinder International’s Community Based HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care, and Support Program (COPHIA) focuses on working with community-based organizations (CBOs). Program goals include strengthening the capacity of communities to identify children’s needs and to develop and implement activities focused on HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support for OVC and persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA); and build the capacity of local organizations to manage and implement HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support services.