This programme, named by communities as Asibavikele: Let’s Protect Them, is a CWSA nationally coordinated project that facilitates community care and support for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. The programme trains volunteers to mobilize and involve communities in the identification and care of orphans and vulnerable children, the sensitising of communities to the rights of children and establishes foster care homes and safe homes.

The Asibavikele programme stem from research conducted by CWSA in 1999, have been operational since 2002 and is one of the largest responses to orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa. As with the Isolabantwana programme, Asibavikele has also generated training manuals for caregivers, trainers and volunteers.

• 2002-2006 saw CWSA pilot and establish 38 sites across the country.

• Between 2005 and 2006, the project trained 696 community volunteers and identified 8 524 orphaned and vulnerable children in need of Asibavikele’s comprehensive service package.

• From 2006 to 2007 a further 545 volunteers were trained and an additional 10 141 children reached.

• From 2007 to 2008, seventeen more sites were established, 15 949 orphans reached and 1 758 volunteers trained.

• A further 80 sites are planned for the 2008-2009 period.

A partnership between CWSA and the Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation has seen foster care homes established in communities, staffed by foster mothers and monitored by social workers linked to the Asibavikele programme.

On a broader level, CWSA has assisted in the development of training manuals to establish HIV and AIDS community forums and has established provincial and district action committees for children affected by the pandemic.

Success Stories

Patrick’s Story:

Patrick worked as a conductor on a taxi by day and slept on the streets at night. When he came to Zamani he had to fit into the routine and go to school. He soon showed interest in his studies and did extremely well to complete the Senior Certificate exams. As he was intent on furthering his studies, a bursary was awarded to him by the Hexagon Trust to study for a diploma in accounting at the Durban Institute of Technology. This was a huge step for him and after much perseverance and hard work he managed to complete the diploma in four years. He was then employed by the Durban Children’s Society in the Accounts Department and is now studying towards a B. Tech degree. Patrick is married now and works for a shipping company that offers better prospects. Because of his care and concern for his colleagues at Zamani, he is still involved with regular programmes over weekends and is looked upon as an elder brother and role model by the younger boys. We are proud of Patrick and other children at Lakehaven who also received bursaries from the Hexagon Trust to study at tertiary institutions.

Life Line for an HIV+ Child
Yvonne is 10 years old and living with HIV and identified by an Asibavikele volunteer during the initial door to door campaign held in Graskop, Mpumalanga. Yvonne was one of the first children recorded by the program. Her mother was deceased and her father unknown. She lives in a squatter shack outside the Glory Hill township with her grandmother. When Anna, the Asibavikele volunteer, first met her, she was noticeably sick and not attending school regularly because of the illness. Her grandmother was not sure what to do. Through the Asibavikele program, Yvonne was linked to ACTS, a nearby clinic known for treating HIV and Aids patients. The volunteer accompanied Yvonne to the clinic where she was tested and put on ARVs. Her granny was taught how to administer the medication. Because of the volunteer and the Asibavikele program Yvonne’s life has been positively transformed as she now accesses health care support and her condition is improving each day. She attends school regularly. The Asibavikele programme continues to support the family by providing emotional support, material relief and monthly visits. This year we helped them to start a vegetable garden near their shack and they are very thankful for the assistance they have received.

Shelter from the Cold
Tembi, an Asibavikele volunteer in Riversdale, identified Joyce and her baby of 6 months old as needing help. Joyce is HIV positive and lives in a shack in an informal settlement. At the time both she and her baby were ill as winter had come and the shack was bitterly cold. Tembi approached some of the other Asibavikele volunteers to assist. In agreement with Tembi, the volunteers collected and painted cardboard which they used to line the inside of her shack. This insulated the shack from the cold and made sure that their nights were no longer spent freezing. In addition, Tembi accompanied Joyce to the local clinic, assisted her to receive ARVs as well as food supplements for herself and the baby. Tembi continues to visit Joyce weekly providing her with emotional support and assistance wherever possible.

A little bit of help to bring about a meaningful arrangement
Because of a lack of funds small organisations, crèches, after school care programmes and service centers in rural Western Cape cannot afford the appointment of auditors. To assist, the CWSA provincial office managed to negotiate, for an extremely reasonable fee, for the services of a registered auditing company in Parow