South Africa

'The Future of Our Nation' (2007-ongoing)

'Ikamva Labantu' - 'The Future of Our Nation' was established in response to the ravaging devastation of the AIDS epidemic on the country's children. This project enables the hiring of eight much needed additional Home Based Carers, in order to expand the scope and reach of the organization's work.

The Carers, trained community members who travel throughout the communities, have become a necessary response to the high prevalence of illness and the resulting absence of family support for surviving members of the family. They are each based in a different area on the Western Cape, and are fully interactive within the home environment of a family; promoting positive child care practices by alleviating risky situations and identifying problem areas or possible need for intervention. The Carers support vulnerable families by providing nursing, domestic, and other care, particularly to children. They are given access to resources, clinics, schools, and psychosocial support, and teach families how to utilize the services available to them, including important documents and child care grants. Home Based Carers maintain networks of support for each other and their clients, and are kept up to date on current developments and changes in the field. In addition to funding, JDC has offered to assist with organizational expertise, as and when it is deemed valuable.