Rooikoppen-Isibindi Project

CHABHA partners with the Anglican Diocese of the Highveld in South Africa. Early in 2007, CHABHA learned about the needs of children in a community near Standerton called Rooikoppen. There thousands of people, many illegal immigrants, live in extremely impoverished circumstances. Not only are many people ineligible for government services, but there is no transportation and very high unemployment. Many people are infected, and the number oforphans is rising.

The community is creating a program to support orphans and others made vulnerable by HIV/ADS and other problems. The model is called Isibindi and has been shown to be a very effective community-based program. Young people from the community are selected and provided extensive training on all matters relevant to the population. Child-Youth-Care Workers (CYCWs) are each assigned several vulnerable families, and, in each one the CYCW visits each family several times weekly. CYCWs hold family meetings, help children prepare for school, help with homework, teach children how to cook, help with washing, encourage members to be tested for HIV, negotiate administrative matters, communicate with the school, and all manner of needs.