About AIDS Orphanage Social Care Project

Project Details

The AIDS Orphanage and Hospice opened in July 2003 in Somerset West, Western Cape and provides residential care for up to 26 children (aged from birth to seven years) at any one time, ensuring that the children’s physical and medical needs are being attended to.

The project's objective is to create self-sufficiency and competency for children and families living with HIV/AIDS, in order to reduce the incidence of AIDS-related child abandonment and neglect through:

• Palliative care for terminally ill children.
• Respite care for children who are acutely ill.
• Residential care for chronically ill abandoned babies and children
• Acting as an emergency place of safety.
• Implementation of Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-positive children.
• To recruit and screen families willing to care for special needs children, HIV-positive children and children on ARVs.

The hospice is staffed by a fully qualified team working round-the-clock shifts, supported by social workers, fundraisers and administrative staff.  Three doctors from Hottentots Holland Hospital have committed to conducting ward rounds twice a week.  There are also four honorary doctors that come in from their private practices to assess the children.

Accommodation

What will you do?

Volunteers assist the hospice staff by feeding, stimulating and playing with the children.  They also assist with the transport of the children, taking healthier children on outings, and any other general help or administration required around the hospice. 

Description of project activities:

1. Residential care for up to 26 children at any one time (from birth to seven years) who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and who cannot be cared for in the community.
2. Emergency place of safety for children from birth to seven years, who have been abandoned, orphaned or abused.  These children will be returned to the community in as short a time as possible through reunification with biological families, foster care or adoption. These children will only be accommodated if there are vacancies; preference will be given to terminally ill children.
3. Holistic care, incorporating physical, emotional, spiritual, cognitive and social development.
4. Reunification or alternative community placement for children who are clinically well.
5. Counselling and support services for caregivers and extended families.
6. Funeral arrangements.
7. Home-based care: medical staff visiting families at home to ensure that children on ARV treatment are compliant.

Pictures

Past Volunteer Comments