Supporting vulnerable children
An HIV/Aids Crisis
Masakhane was initially set up by Ikamva Labantu as a Seniors' Centre to assist the elderly members of the Philippi East community. Through forums held at the Centre it was soon discovered that a crisis was looming. Most of the seniors were working full-time, caring for their sickly children, who were living with them as a result of the HIV/Aids epidemic. Moreover, they had the added responsibility of looking after their grandchildren.
To assist these seniors in caring for their children, Ikamva Labantu introduced Community Workers through Masakhane to help a community in crisis. The more involved Ikamva Labantu became in the community, the more the crisis unfolded. Most of the seniors were living without any income earners and were barely able to support themselves, let alone an entire household of children and grandchildren. In some instances these seniors even took on the responsibility of caring for other children who had been either orphaned or abandoned. However, most of them lacked the know-how (and the required documentation) to apply for support grants from the government. What they required was basic education and support in the application process.
A strategic approach to the HIV/AIDS Crisis
In October 2006, with the financial backing of Remgro (a South African Investment Holding Company), Ikamva Labantu launched a pilot project at Masakhane. The pilot involved the assessment of families through the existing Ikamva Labantu programmes and projects to determine which children were most in need. Careful attention was paid to the budget allocation to ensure the programme's success. To accommodate Family Services Sector (FSS) at Masakhane Seniors' Centre, Ikamva Labantu extended the existing building and erected a multipurpose hall with the assistance of Remgro. These renovations effectively doubled the size of the centre.
The aim of the initiative was to create a standard model of intervention that could be replicated elsewhere in the country. In attempting to do this, the initiative needed to address:
- how best to assist children and families with the grant-application process;
- how best to support these children and families while applying for these grants; and
- how best to disengage these children and families once basic needs have been addressed, grants have been approved.
Building self-reliant communities
Masakhane's focus was on building self-sufficient households with a two pronged approach, supporting the child and supporting the Carer.Children were escorted firstly to the Department of Home Affairs where they were assisted with their birth-certificate and ID-document applications. They were then taken to Social Services to apply for support grants. In addition, Ikamva Labantu assisted with the applications for schools and crèches, a difficult process because of the reluctance of these institutions to accept children without proper documentation. Those who eventually manage to obtain grants and become self-sufficient move away from the support of Ikamva Labantu. Those who don't remain supported by Ikamva Labantu until they finish their schooling.
Now the Masakhane Centre is operating at full capacity and doing an incredible job of supporting the surrounding community. It is inundated with requests for assistance from others who have seen the difference Ikamva Labantu is making in the community by helping families to become self-sufficient. However, the problem is so widespread and, with current resources and funding, Ikamva Labantu is only able to scratch the surface.
A standard model of intervention
The Masakhane project has been an enormous success and as a result, a standard model of intervention has been developed. Ikamva Labantu could not have done it without the support of Remgro and is incredibly grateful for all Remgro's assistance. Remgro is equally happy with the success of the pilot project and, on that basis, is looking into rolling out two similar initiatives in the Western Cape. There is also enormous gratitude from the community who deeply appreciates all that Remgro and Ikamva Labantu are doing.