Overview

South Africa is a middle income country with well developed financial, legal, communication, and transport sectors. South Africa enjoys a high literacy rate (86%) and is a haven for many refugees from other less stable African nations. The increasing numbers of refugees coupled with economic problems resulting from the Apartheid era contribute to high levels of unemployment, poverty and poor social conditions especially among disadvantaged groups. Despite being a regional leader in health services infrastructure, every day 1,000 South Africans die as a result of HIV/AIDS related conditions. South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV in the world and is a source, transit and destination country fortrafficked persons.

World Hope South Africa (WHSA) is addressing HIV/AIDS, poverty and human trafficking through its HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care and Anti-Trafficking Programs. WHSA programs have experienced tremendous growth this year due to the establishment of Community Orphan Trust (COT) and Anti-Trafficking initiatives. Ten staff members oversee WHSA’s six programs, five of which are highlighted below.

HIV/AIDS Prevention Program
Reach4Life (R4L) is a faith-based HIV/AIDS prevention program targeting youth in schools. WHSA launched R4L in four secondary schools and three primary schools in Soweto and Katlehong. Discipleship groups using the R4L curriculum successfully ran in four secondary schools and two primary schools. The R4L program was also launched in Vosloorus and Mount Frere church groups.

HIV/AIDS Care Programs
WHSA believes that a good education and holistic care in early childhood will make a sustainable difference in the lives of young children, enabling them to make meaningful contribution to their communities as they grow older. In order to address these needs, WHSA is planting COT  projects and serving vulnerable schools through the Vulnerable Children Program in communities with a high number of orphans. COTs enable communities to look after the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in their midst through income generating activities, community health work (with a strong OVC focus) and home based care. Originally launched in Olievenhoutbosch in March 2007, 20 caregivers are now committed to the livelihood program. A second trust was launched in partnership with Pretoria Evangelism and Nurture (PEN) in October with sewing and baking/catering as income generating projects. The foundation was laid for skills training/income generation and community health education to start in early 2008. Another trust was launched in Orange Farm Township near Soweto with the Steve Biko Primary School in November. The foundation was laid for the gardening project and community health education to start early 2008.

The Vulnerable Children Program serves school districts with high numbers of OVC. Many children benefiting from the program are orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS. WHSA established an Educational Resource Center in partnership with an inner-city organization (PEN), to provide nine inner-city disadvantaged pre-schools in the Pretoria area with educational equipment and toys. Several trainings were offered to the staff of these schools and others in the area, including first aid, basic management, early childhood development, and listening skills.

WHSA’s Counseling and Memory Book program inspires hope and dignity in those living with HIV/AIDS by providing an opportunity for persons infected with the disease to create a scrapbook of their life. The program was broadened to allow children and youth to create books as well. Overall, 50 adults and 126 children completed books this year. Five volunteers assist the staff with memory books and counseling.

Anti-Trafficking Program
In June 2007, WHI, together with WHSA, began a new Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Prevention Program focusing on prevention through public awareness, and protection through training on identifying and caring for survivors of trafficking.

Highlights from 2007 include:

•In partnership with The Salvation Army in South Africa, WHI/WHSA lead a four-day Training of Trainers on Hands That Heal: International Curriculum to Train Caregivers of Trafficking Survivors. Eighteen participants from six caregiving and advocacy organizations were trained to teach Hands That Heal. Subsequent trainings are being planned for Cape Town and Durban.
•WHI, WHSA and the Girl Guides of South Africa established a partnership to launch the 2008 National Challenge Badge on Human Trafficking. In November, WHI and WHSA provided TIP training for 20 Girl Guide Regional Leaders and helped develop anti-trafficking activities for the 24,000 participating girls in South Africa to earn their National Challenge Badge.
•WHI and WHSA conducted trafficking awareness workshops and presentations for more than 100 local health care and social workers, community leaders, educators, WHSA staff, and church leaders. Participants learned about human trafficking and how it might be happening in their communities.
•As part of South Africa’s “Anti-Trafficking Week,” WHSA distributed 800 antitrafficking pamphlets and 100 posters in Gauteng Province areas of Tshwane, Katlehong, Soweto and Johannesburg. WHSA staff answered questions and explained basic TIP information to all recipients while distributing materials.