Programme Design
Care for Kids has developed a three-phase process to guide local churches in their response:
Phase 1 sets up an orphan relief programme in the church to give basic material support.
Phase 2 creates a more comprehensive care programme for both orphans and their carers.
Phase 3 involves church's that run independently.
Since each church is unique, Care for Kids does not try to impose a pre-designed programme. Instead we support and enable local churches to develop their own programme, at their own pace, based on the available resources.
Care for Kids provides support and care for orphans and vulnerable children.
Care for Kids has defined the children who are supported by the programme.
An orphan is a child whose parents or primary carer has died or absconded is 18years of age and under (or 20 years if still at school).
A vulnerable child is a child who lives with a family that has taken in an orphan.
1. Orphan Relief Programme
In this first phase, Care for Kids helps churches set up a basic orphan relief programme. The relief that is provided includes food and hygiene packs that are given on a monthly basis until government grants are accessed. We help the church to mobilize volunteers who will be the link with the families. We also train the volunteers to determine the needs of the orhans at the same time providing support by regularly visiting the homes.
2. Comprehensive Care Programme
In this second phase, Care for Kids helps churches builds onto their relief programme to set up other support services for the orphans and their carers. In order to do this the programme needs to take into account the following issues:
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The needs of the orphans and their carers.
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The gaps in existing service in the community.
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The resources available within the church.
The focus in this phase is:
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To build the resilience and provide emotional and spiritual support to the orphans.
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To build the capacity of the carer's and to provide emotional and spiritual support to them.
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To build the capacity of the churches, by training volunteers to support both the orphans and their carers.
3. Independent Programmes in Churches
Once the programme has taken root, we encourage the church to develop into an independent project. This does not mean that the church is abandoned. Care for Kids co-ordinates a network of independent churches and is available to provide support and assistance on request.
Embracing the bigger picture
Dealing with issues
Care for orphans cannot be separated from the context of HIV/AIDS. Each church needs to deal with issues related to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support. We give particular attention to removing the stigma associated with the disease. For many people living with Aids, a large part of their suffering comes from the fear and reality of rejection by their own family and community.
Practical preparations
Care for Kids works with churches to empower HIV+ parents to prepare their children for their death. This may include:
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Helping parents to disclose their status to their children.
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Create a memory box.
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Write a will.
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Plan for their funeral.
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Prepare their children for their pending death.
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Identify who will care for their children after their death and prepare all those concerned.
Enabling links
Care for Kids helps well-resourced churches to form links with less well-resourced churches to respond to the orphan crisis in our country.