01
Bongimpilo
Bongimpilo Creche and Pre-School aims to improve the lives of young orphans and vulnerable children through access to education and Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes, providing stimulation for the children mentally, physically and emotionally. Established in 1999, Bongimpilo works with children under the age of 6 and also provides an after-care facility for older children. There are currently 60 children in their care daily.
02
Ethembeni
Established in 2000, The mission of Ethembeni’s Education Support Programme is to bring hope to vulnerable children in Mpophomeni by supporting children in Grades R to 12 with their school learning. The aim is to develop their thinking, learning, academic and interpersonal skills in fun, dynamic and novel ways; and to influence and equip them to become positive leaders within their families, friends, school and local communities.
03
Thandanani
Thandanani Children’s Foundation gives hope and care to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Established in 1989, Thandanani helps families to move from a state of vulnerability to stability and self-reliance; focusing on their physical, mental, emotional & cognitive wellbeing. Thandanani makes a meaningful and sustainable difference to over 2,400 children, their caregivers and families and trains volunteers in various aspects of OVC care and support.
04
Vukukhanye
The aim of the Vukukhanye Educare Centre is to facilitate the provision of quality preschool education to children from Chesterville. Established in 2002, Vukukhanye believes that quality early childhood education is critical to the development of individuals, and ultimately impacts on the socio-economic progress of communities and South Africa as a whole. Currently there are 42 children attending the Educare Centre.
05
Woza Moya
Woza Moya was established in 2000 and has grown out of listening to the needs of the community they serve. Woza Moya began by providing home-based health care in response to the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS in the Ufafa Valley. The programme has since evolved establishing a holistic and integrated community development approach. The Vision of Woza Moya is for all people in the Ufafa Valley Community to be healthy and productive, living in a safe and clean environment, with good access to services and social justice.
06
Zisize
The Zisize Educational Trust works in the northernmost tip of KwaZulu-Natal where the population is 120,000 and around 57% are under the age of 19. Zisize operates in centres that provide after-school educational support: homework, counselling, nutritional meals, a safe place to play and an adult to talk to. Starfish provides equipment for these facilities such as books, computers, toys and stationery to over 2000 orphaned and vulnerable children that come to the centres.
07
Wellness Wagon
South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic in the world. 7 out of 10 child deaths under the age of 5 are preventable. Many have no access to health care due to poverty or the remoteness of their location. The Starfish Wellness Wagon programme reaches these rural areas to provide health care. The programme offers HIV and TB testing, ARV medication and adherence programs. Education for HIV prevention and empowerment of adolescent girls for the prevention of gender-based violence. Last year more than 8,000 children received health care through our Wellness Wagon programme.
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.
