South Africa has one of the highest recorded incidences of HIV/Aids in Africa and as a result, many children have lost one or both of their parents. These children are often left to deal with the death of a loved one and receive no counselling to help them through the confusion, pain and grief. Home-Start has successfully run Bereavement programs for HIV orphans since 2011 and 150 orphans have benefited. Home-Start would like to offer this program to other orphans that have been affected by HIV
South Africa has one of the highest recorded incidences of AIDs/HIV in Africa, and many children have lost one or both parents or family members or friends. Most have to deal with the death of a loved one alone and receive no counselling to help them come to terms with their loss and cope with their grief. As a result, they may have behavioural problems and loss of concentration which in turn may lead to a decline in their school work.
Home-Start South Africa will run a bereavement program for HIV orphans between the ages of 6 and 13. The program has been researched and is determined as having the following outcomes for : Improved concentration in the classroom Improve behavioral patterns in children Overall improvement in school performance Enhanced relationships with peers, parents, carers and family members Fewer children with the after effects of complicated grief.
In 2015 Home-Start reach will reach 80 orphans with its bereavement program in Daveyton, a township outside of the city of Benoni, which is situated east of Johannesburg. The program will help these orphans, aged between 6 and 13 years of age, deal with the loss of a loved one. Studies have shown that if grief is not resolved in childhood, it can have long-lasting effects into adult life. These might include depression, alcoholism, loneliness, accidents, anxiety, physical diseases and suicide.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
