As the AIDS pandemic sweeps across sub-Saharan Africa, a generation of children are growing up parentless and often traumatised emotionally. In traditional African society, orphaned children would be taken in by extended family. But the impact of AIDS is decimating this safety net, leaving many children alone. Often older children have no time to grieve, as they are forced into the role of caring for their younger siblings and providing an income. As well as sacrificing an education, economic hardships can lead them into begging, child labour and sex work.
HOPEHIV equips local communites to respond practically by pioneering residential adventure camps and weekly Kids' Clubs run by trained volunteers in partnership with the Salvation Army. These camps and clubs provide a safe place for creative play, art and drama alongside counselling that helps children address their grief, capture family memories and build resilience for the future. Home visits also offer material and educational support.
This model is based on the UNAIDS-endorsed Masiye Camp in Zimbabwe. HOPEHIV has rolled it out succesfully into seven new African countries, pioneering hundreds of weekly clubs run by the community and reaching thousands of isolated and grieving orphans. Young volunteers, often orphans themselves, are equipped as program leaders, becoming part of the solution in their communities.
Read about our current community kids club projects across Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya.