Counseling South African youth with HIV+ parents

Summary

Women sew traditional dresses to raise funds for a peer-to-peer counselling program for children whose parents have HIV/AIDS. Additional sewing machines will expand this self-sufficient program.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Zwelethemba, where the only source of income is from seasonal work on fruit farms, is one of the poorest areas of the Western Cape. Unemployed women, who have been trained to use sewing machines, make traditional Xhosa dresses to sell to both tourists and women who wear them for family ceremonies. The proceeds to fund local peer-to-peer counseling for youth whose parents have AIDS. Five sewing machines are needed to expand this outreach.

How will this project solve this problem?

In the African tradition of "Ubuntu" (supporting one's community), the local women gather at the Zwelenthemba Center where their children are fed and looked after, and they can sew undisturbed.

Potential Long Term Impact

Additional sewing machines will increase output, providing more funding for youth counseling program. Youth counselors range live with parents with AIDS, hand out pamphlets on safe sex, talk to peers & perform plays for local children about HIV/AIDS.

Project Message

It is important that children living with very sick parents have a peer to talk to, someone who is living in a similar situation and has first-hand knowledge of their challenges and their pain
- Nomvuyo Badi, Project Coordinator

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources