Ahead of National Children’s Day on 2 November, Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) has expanded its children’s programme, launching child and youth groups at four new community sites in the Valley of 1000 Hills region.
National Children’s Day aims to highlight progress being made towards the promotion and realisation of the rights of children, as stipulated by South Africa’s constitution and through regional and international human rights commitments.
“To us, everyday is children’s day,” said HACT’s Children’s Department Manager, Sara Brown. “We fight for the rights of children, particularly children who are living with HIV and orphaned and vulnerable children every day, but it’s great that on 2 November the whole country stops to think about these issues.”
HACT is a local non-profit organisation that responds to the HIV/AIDS pandemic through care, prevention and poverty alleviation and income generation projects.
Its Children’s Programme started in August 2012 with 150 children receiving home-based care, HIV testing and education and psycho-social support. The programme has since expanded to four additional community sites and now reaches over 400 children.
Sara explains that all the children on the programme are orphaned or vulnerable and the majority stay in child-headed or granny-headed households.
“The support groups are bringing children who are in similar situations together to become friends, support each other, become family to one another. Seeing them regularly allows our team to monitor them, observe where there are problems and be a part of their lives – hopefully making a positive impact on them.”
For interview opportunities, please contact Laurel Oettle on 031 765 5866 or laurel@hillaids.org.za.