HOW WE WORK
Our Programs
01
Thy Kingdom
Gauteng
Thy Kingdom Care Centre was established in 2012 with a vision to become one of the leading centres in South Africa, by providing the highest quality of services and skills to orphans, the needy and vulnerable South Africans.
The center takes care of children orphaned and those made vulnerable in the community of Evaton and Sebokeng Zone 3. Poverty and the high rate of unemployment are the contributing factors to crime in the area which exacerbates the social ills. The centre support over 550 orphaned and vulnerable children
Bulungula
Eastern Cape
Bulungula Incubator was formed in 2007, in Transkei Eastern Cape. The incubator’s vision is to be a catalyst in the creation of vibrant and sustainable rural communities.
Bulungula Incubator (BI) is a rural development NGO that works in the Mbhashe Municipality, one of the most isolated and impoverished regions of South Africa. While, on average, South Africa is considered a middle-income country, it is characterised by having extremely high levels of inequality. The poorest areas, such as the one served by BI, are effectively on a par with the most impoverished in Africa.
The Wellness Wagon
Curabitur aliquam justo ex, ac varius sem facilisis a. In vel felis eros. Fusce ipsum enim, ultrices at ante sollicitudin, faucibus hendrerit nunc. Nullam tempor nulla eu imperdiet interdum.
Keiskamma
Eastern Cape
The Keiskamma Trust (originally the Keiskamma Art Project Trust) was established in 2000, by Dr. Carol Baker. The Keiskamma’s vision is to provide inspiration and income generation opportunities to the extremely poor women in the remote rural villages of Hamburg, Bodiam and Bell.
The Keiskamma Trust is a rural development NGO that works in Hamburg Primary School. The programme was established in response to the expressed and observed needs of children in the South Peddie Area. Centres have also been established in Lovers Twist and Mgababa villages.
05
Thandanani
KwaZulu Natal
Thandanani Children’s Foundation was established in 1989, in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. The Foundation’s vision is to give hope and care to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC).
The Thandanani Children’s Foundation is continuing to give hope and support to the most vulnerable children through their OVC programme. Despite the significant increase in the number of orphans throughout the years, the Foundation gives a smile to over 2,329 children.
06
Agape
Curabitur aliquam justo ex, ac varius sem facilisis a. In vel felis eros. Fusce ipsum enim, ultrices at ante sollicitudin, faucibus hendrerit nunc. Nullam tempor nulla eu imperdiet interdum.
07
Sethani
Gauteng
Sethani Community Services was established in 1994, in the community of KwaNgcolosi, in KwaZulu-Natal. The vision of Sethani is to be a catalyst for transformation in KwaNgcolosi by empowering members of the community to help themselves and to care for one another, especially the orphans and vulnerable children in the community.
The Community Centre is situated in a previously disadvantaged area where poverty and its accompanying factors such as unemployment, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse are rife. These conditions are worsened and spread by the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic which has widely made the community vulnerable.
09
Nokuphila
Eastern Cape
Nokuphila gives life in numerous ways and exemplifies the spirit of giving back and endeavors to ensure the sustainability of the project through various initiatives.
Nokuphila supports orphaned and vulnerable HIV/AIDS children from Kwa-Thema and its surroundings, with 120 two-to-six-year old’s in the daycare centre and over 300 seven-to-eighteen-year-old children at the drop in centre. 60% of the children in the Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD) are orphaned or vulnerable due to HIV/AIDS whilst 100% of the children in the Drop-in Centre are affected or infected with HIV. The youth unemployment rate is currently very high currently at 36.9% in Kwa Thema. This has resulted in excessive drug abuse and dysfunctional youth in the area. There are no major industries in the area to provide meaningful employment and young people turn themselves to drugs and crime.
10
Ubomi Obutsha Centre
Eastern Cape
The Ubomi Obutsha Centre is situated in KwaZakhele, Port Elizabeth. The Centre was established in 1998 as a faith-based Community-Based Organisation and holds a vision to develop the poorest of the poor in their community, through the love of Christ, to live productive lives. Ubomi Obutsha means New Life.
In general, members of this community have low education levels and the unemployment rate is 75%. Unable to support themselves, most inhabitants rely on various government social grants for their livelihood and many of these people then still need to rely on the assistance of others to survive
The Ubomi Obutsha Centre provides a range of services from an ECD to supplying basic needs and life skills based support groups for the youth. Ubomi describes their programme:
11
Loaves and Fishes
Eastern Cape
The loaves and Fishes network was established in 2006, in Buffalo City, Eastern Cape. Its main strategy is the mobilisation, collection and distribution of contributions from civil society to the neediest children, affected by poverty, violence and AIDS (PVA). The Loaves and Fishes Network operates mainly within the environment of the Buffalo City Municipality with a population of over 2 million people, approximately 76% of children in this community are living in poverty. This community is also affected by the highest infant mortality rate due to difficulties and challenges faced by the community such as unemployment, poverty and HIV/AIDS.
12
Ethembeni
Eastern Cape
Ethembeni Community Organisation was established in 2001, in Hankey Eastern Cape. Their vision is to bring hope to families affected by HIV/AIDS and TB in the Natal Midlands by providing comprehensive and gender-specific care and prevention services.
Levels of unemployment are high in Ethembeni with the majority of the working community members accessing seasonal work while most are unemployed.
The community is faced with social issues such as poverty, unemployment, teenage pregnancies, alcohol abuse, malnutrition of children and ever-increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS and Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC
The Residential Care Centre (another place of hope) cares for AIDS and TB patients who are in need of intensive palliative care. There are four hospital-type beds set up in the two bedrooms.
Each patient is either nursed back to health through correct nutrition and monitoring of medication intake by qualified nurses or is allowed to die in a dignified way. Miracles happen every day in all of Ethembeni’s programmes.
Starfish currently assists Ethembeni in providing school uniforms, stationery and educational toys to the children as well as food parcels for the community. A major portion of the funding is aimed at capacity building and supporting operational costs
13
Vukukhanye
KwaZulu Natal
Vukukhanye was formed in 2002 and supports community-based development projects aimed at the care of orphans and children made vulnerable through holistic care and support.
Programme Description
Vukukhanye provides various support services to the children namely; OVC & other welfare support services in order to support social cohesion; operation of a children’s foster home for the holistic residential care of orphans and vulnerable children, support of Early Childhood Development through the development and operation of a new preschool in Chesterville, provision of long-term renewable school and tertiary bursaries, material and other support to Chesterville preschools and schools as well as to empower and support local black entrepreneurs to own and manage a ‘Sport For All Chesterville’ social franchise.
14
Umvoti Aids Centre
Umvoti Aids Centre was established in 2001, in the Umvoti Municipal area of Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal. Their vision is to alleviate the impact of HIV/AIDS and provide holistic care and support to all infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and orphaned vulnerable children (OVC) in Umvoti.
Most children in this area are affected or infected by HIV/AIDS, this together with poverty, T.B. and death best describe the daily challenges faced by this community. In most cases, children are left to care for themselves because one or both parents have passed away due to HIV/AIDS. Approximately 80% of people live in this harsh rural area with limited or no access to piped water, sanitation, health services and electricity.
15
Tsongang Sechaba
KwaZulu Natal
Gauteng
Tsogang Sechaba aims to “educate a child and empower a nation.”
Programme Description: The centre is respected in the community and works hand-in-hand with Starfish and other centres in the community to provide the best support possible to the children. The centre largely focusses on the nutritional needs of children with small sub-programmes to support other basic needs. The centre is able to monitor the children by keeping an up-to-date database which allows them to keep accurate records and provide sustainable support services.
16
Zisize
Gauteng
Zisize’s projects are situated in the northernmost tip of KwaZulu-Natal around the small ‘town’ of Ingwavuma. The two Children’s Centres are 50km apart, along back-breaking dirt roads. The projects operate in an area of 2100km2 bordered by Mozambique to the north, Swaziland to the West and the Pongola River to the South and East. Zisize’s work covers the three tribal areas of Mathenjwa, Nyawo and Mngomezulu, also known as part of District 27.2, the Jozini Municipality within Umkhanyakude District. The population size is estimated to be 120,000 with 57% being under the age of 19 years. Zisize focuses on areas surrounding its two centres at Manyiseni and Ingwavuma and the communities surrounding seven schools which are between 6km and 60km from the ‘town’.
17
Isipho
Eastern Cape
Isipho Charity Trust was established in 2008 with a vision to lead the community of Paterson and the Eastern Cape in its fight against HIV/AIDS and the negative socio-economic effects of the diseases.
Paterson is characterised by a high rate of unemployment with 70% of the population accessing social grants as the primary income. HIV/AIDS, alcohol and substance abuse are rife with teenage pregnancy a big challenge as well.
18
Ikageng
Gauteng
Ikageng is a Tswana word meaning “build yourselves.” Ikageng Itireleng Aids Ministry is guided by their mantra, “it takes a village to raise a child.
The centre is located in Orlando West, behind the Walter Sisulu Community Clinic and a stone throw away from the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto. Ikageng serves the needs of the community of Orlando West, in Gauteng. They currently support 1 300 children. Programme Description: Carol Dyantyi “Ma Carol” founded the centre in 2002 when she started caring for two children who had lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. When she realised the extent of the need in her community, Ma Carol gave up her full-time profession as a nurse and opened Ikageng
19
St Theresa
Kokstad
St Theresa’s Children’s Project was formed to assist the impoverished families in the region. Most families in this community do not have the knowledge or funds available to offer their children any form of preparation for school readiness and require on-site guidance in basic health care issues.
It is evident that there is a desperate need to provide regular nutrition, structured curriculum, Life skills for the early development in vulnerable and orphaned, pre-school children, including those who are HIV positive, in the Riverview and Eastview areas within the Kokstad region.
The centre provides Early Childhood Development to children between the age of 3years to 5years, to ensure the early stimulation and school readiness support.
20
Ikageng
Gauteng
Ikageng is a Tswana word meaning “build yourselves.” Ikageng Itireleng Aids Ministry is guided by their mantra, “it takes a village to raise a child.
The centre is located in Orlando West, behind the Walter Sisulu Community Clinic and a stone throw away from the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto. Ikageng serves the needs of the community of Orlando West, in Gauteng. They currently support 1 300 children. Programme Description: Carol Dyantyi “Ma Carol” founded the centre in 2002 when she started caring for two children who had lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. When she realised the extent of the need in her community, Ma Carol gave up her full-time profession as a nurse and opened Ikageng
21
Siphumelele
Kokstad
Siphumelele Isikelo CBO started to operate under the banner of Sinosizo Sisinke Isikelo Orphanage and Child Care Centre, which is based in Nomlacu Village. The centre operates at Mt Zion Village taking care of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children.
Siphumelele Isikelo was formed to intervene in challenges of direct consequences due to HIV/AIDS pandemic, high rate of unemployment, poverty and neglect of Children. This has led to an ever-growing number of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in the area. Siphumelele address these needs by providing programmes and support that includes – a Drop-in centre that will offer structured after-school activities such as Life skills, career guidance, HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health for the children.
They also provide daily meals for Children as part of their Nutrition programme. They have recently established a community vegetable garden to feed needy families and OVC children
22
Khanya Nkwenkwezi
Kokstad
Khanya Nkwenkwezi is based in Lusikisiki – a large rural area encompassing several dozen villages centred in Lusikisiki in the district of Pondoland, with the help of Friends in Ireland, Khanya Nkwenkwezi was established and a plot of land was acquired from the King and Queen of Pondo in 2004.
Confronted with new challenges such as ever- growing of HIV/AIDS: and the subsequent rising levels of child-headed families, orphans and vulnerable children, both Khanya Nkwenkwezi and the Friends in Ireland recruited the volunteers to provide much-needed support to the communities 2009. The area is characterised by poverty and high rate of unemployment.
23
Mzongwana
Kokstad
Mzongwana Multi-purpose Centre was established in the Community called Chibini in Mzongwana in the town called Matatiele in 2007. Due to extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS, the centre was formed and registered as a Non-profit Organisation to address the needs of the Community.
The project began as a means to deal with and assist a large number of Orphans and Vulnerable Children within their Community by offering nurturing care and support.
24
Taimid Ag Fas
Kokstad
Taimid Ag Fas was established in Franklin about 20-30 Kilometres away from Kokstad. The centre aims to make a positive difference to the lives of Franklin Community including the surrounding areas by providing support and assistance to needy and vulnerable families.
The centre main focus is to support children and youth so that they all achieve their highest potential.
25
Pebbles Trust
Western Cape
The main emphasis of the Pebbles Project is education. The centre We enrich the lives of disadvantaged children and families in the Winelands farming communities in the Western Cape.
Pebbles focuses on the entire life of the child and the challenging circumstances in which they live to make a significant and lasting difference. Founded in 2004, the centre has impacted the lives of children and their families by providing support and intervention in five key areas: Education, Health, Nutrition, Community and Protection
26
Masoyi
Mpumalanga
Masoyi Home Based Care (MHBC) began offering services in 1997 in response to the increasing number of people who were HIV infected and families that were affected by the illness and death of loved ones. Soon after the emergence of MHBC, it became clear that children were experiencing many problems because of illness and death within their families. This led to the birth of Orphan Care Programme.
Today, this programme reaches out to orphaned vulnerable children (OVC) and provides spiritual, emotional and physical support to children. The services include assistance with obtaining birth documents, daily feeding, food parcels, early childhood development programme run from multi-care centres, assistance with homework for older children and the running of leadership and peer-support programme with vulnerable youth.
27
Bana ba Hlokang
Mpumalanga
Bana ba Hlokang is a network of Churches in Clarens caring for orphans and vulnerable children so that no child in our community will go hungry and persuing it in ways that encourage hope, dignity and a sense of belonging.
In carrying out the above we are working determinedly yet gradually towards increasing ownership and leadership of the project by working in partnership with the community
Bana Bahlokang project’s vision is to serve underprivileged children in the community by providing them with a daily meal from Monday to Friday, as well as a place of care, learning and safety. Lessons and assistance in a variety of subjects and activities, including computer-work, reading, homework, sport, art and dance, are given by dedicated volunteers. The scope of benefits for the approximately 200 children enrolled at Bana is immeasurable.
Our ProgRESS / WHERE WE WORK / OUR STORIES
Starfish Greathearts Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) Organisation
EIN Number: 20-3622548
