MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE

Our community care programmes take care of over 500 children affected by HIV/AIDS. With many of the children being heads of households and with a lot more being taken care of by their guardians (in many cases their grandmothers) income is a huge problem resulting in poor nutrition and other problems that manifest in the children.

Abraham Kriel Bambanani runs two types of HIV/AIDS programmes; Home-Based Care programmes and Drop-In Centres.

HOME-BASED CARE

Our Home-Based Care programmes take care of 350 HIV/AIDS affected children in Westbury (Abraham Kriel Family Care Programme) and Soweto (Extended Family Programme) providing a holistic service to desperately poor children and families. The children are provided with balanced cooked meals every day, school clothing, stationary and other basic donations where possible.

The meals are cooked at the Langlaagte and Emdeni Campus and transported daily to the children’s homes or aftercare facilities. Childcare workers or care givers conduct home visits weekly and assist the children to the clinics and supervise their medication. Bereavement therapy and life skills training are given by social workers as well. Parties and outings form part of our services, which we offer as and when the opportunity presents itself.

HOW DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

  • 100% of our children attend school. (Substance abuse, disillusionment, peer pressure and teen pregnancies remain
    rampant in communities such as Soweto and Westbury. The ripple effect of these occurrences often lead to school
    drop-outs.)
  • Where possible, school leavers have been assisted to obtain gainful employment, skills development training or bursaries
    for tertiary studies.
  • We pride in many students successfully completing their degrees or other tertiary studies.
  • Many children have been placed in foster care.
  • Children benefit from afternoon classes, and/or remedial teaching. Their educational levels are monitored by staff.
  • Holiday programmes are facilitated if and when possible. These activities may include soccer tournaments, debates,
    modelling, cultural dances, braais and educational excursions. The purpose is to encourage the children to stay away from
    social ills such as stealing, substance abuse, etc.

DROP-IN CENTRES

Abraham Kriel Bambanani runs two drop-in centers; one in Zola (100 children) and another at Emdeni, Soweto (100 children). Children in our programme go to the Centres after school. Social workers, remedial teachers and counsellors are stationed at the centres so that the children are assisted with their problems and needs at all times.

WHAT DO WE DO?

  • The development of these children remains of primary importance if we wish to break the cycle of poverty and disease. Steps are taken to ensure that children attend school. When it comes to pre-primary education, this usually means that we take responsibility for enrolment and school fees. We also ensure that the children have adequate school clothing and stationary.
  • When possible, school leavers are also assisted with employments networks, skills development training or bursaries for tertiary studies.
  • We provide a holistic service, including physical, emotional, educational, social/recreational and spiritual support to the children.
  • Food is provided daily at the Drop-In Centres which includes a balanced lunch consisting of a protein, starch and 2 veg and 6 slices of bread. Fruit is given if and when funds are available.
  • Healthcare includes visits to local clinics and supervision of medication.
  • Therapy includes bereavement therapy and life skills training.
  • Poverty alleviation projects include vegetable gardens and beadwork.
  • Parties and outings form part of our services, which we offer as and when the opportunity presents itself.

HOW DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

  • Children’s marks and concentration levels have increased at school due to an adequate diet and the stimulation provided by weekly music lessons.
  • Children who were once too weak to walk can now enjoy wonderful interaction with other children at the Centre.
  • With the life skills learnt, a teenage boy realised he should be more responsible on weekends.
  • A child who lost a loved one due to HIV/AIDS has a shoulder to cry on and much support.
  • A little one’s face covered in the aftermath of a delicious lunch, is priceless!