South Africa
Located on the southernmost edge of Africa, South Africa is bordered by two oceans and six countries. It is a nation of rich diversity in cultures, languages and religions. It is also known for its long and troubled history of white minority rule through a previous apartheid policy of segregation of the races. Following largely successful democratic elections since 1994, efforts are being made to rebalance the country’s wealth and power.
South Africa has the largest Caucasian, Indian and racially mixed communities in Africa. Of its eleven official languages, English is the most commonly spoken in official and commercial public life.
South Africa is classified as a middle-income country with abundant resources, profitable industries, efficient commerce and modern infrastructure. Yet many people live by subsistence farming. Only 12% of land is used for farming, and many areas are prone to drought. Much of the large rural population still lives in poverty. |
| Children Affected by HIV and AIDS More than 1.4 children have been orphaned in South Africa as a consequence of the country’s high HIV prevalence rate and deaths from AIDS related illnesses.
The Medical Research Council estimates that the number of these children, and those that are vulnerable to the impact of HIV-AIDS, will rise to five million by 2015.
Other social factors such as high unemployment rates, increased household sizes, abuse and domestic violence have also increased the need for care and support for vulnerable children. Key Issues for orphans and vulnerable children: • Trauma, stigma and discrimination associated with being orphaned or vulnerable
• Limited access to psychosocial support
• Unsafe environments which do not protect children from physical, emotional and sexual abuse
• Inappropriate shelter with overcrowding common
• Limited access to primary health care
• Poor nutrition
• Limited access to secure livelihoods
• Difficulties in accessing foster care grants
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Largest population living with HIV South Africa has the world’s largest HIV-positive population within one country: more than 5.7 million people Africa are HIV-positive, including 280,000 children. In addition, more than 1.4 million children have already lost one or both parents to AIDS, leaving them in extreme difficulties to find food, shelter, an education and protection from all kinds of abuses.
World Vision in South Africa Since 1967, World Vision has been working with under-privileged communities in South Africa to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. Initially this work consisted of providing food, clothing, education and shelter to children in rural communities. Since the late 1970s, the focus has shifted to addressing the causes of poverty and enabling people to find their own solutions to the problems that confront them.
World Vision’s main focus in South Africa is within its 16 Area Development Programmes (ADPs). These programmes have a holistic approach to development that facilitates communities towards greater independence. Currently, over 46,000 children, their families and communities are benefiting from World Vision’s work, which is funded largely though both international and national child sponsorship, Specific activities include:
• Improving community access to quality health care through educational programmes for health care workers and parents, along with HIV & AIDS education and counselling.
• a focused response to HIV and AIDS through prevention, care and advocacy programming
• Improving access to clean water and sanitation by protecting existing water sources and erecting water tanks to harvest rainwater.
• helping communities improve their nutrition and achieve greater food security by providing seeds, tools and training in agriculture and animal husbandry, and increasing their production of meat, vegetables and grains.
• Improving community education and literacy skills through training courses and improvements to schools.
• Supporting economic development through, micro-finance institutions, business training and skills development for young entrepreneurs who want to establish viable small businesses within their communities.
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