SUMMARY:

By training faith and community-based leaders, as well as youth leaders in "Choose Life", a value-based

Abstinence and Be Faithful (AB) prevention program, CompreCare and its prevention partner, HospiVision,

will empower these leaders to implement AB programs in their various constituencies. The emphasis area

for this intervention is training as well as community mobilization. Primary target populations include faith-

based organizations (FBOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community leaders, volunteers,

caregivers of people living with HIV and AIDS, people living with HIV (PLHIV), children and youth, orphans

and vulnerable children.

BACKGROUND:

CompreCare is a South African NGO, undertaking HIV prevention and care activities under a multi-partner

initiative called the CHAMPs Initiative. CompreCare's partner in this program is HospiVision, a FBO involved

in spiritual care, counseling and training. HospiVision is part of a network of FBOs involved in the prevention

of HIV by involving churches in the Tshwane (Greater Pretoria) metropolitan area in Gauteng. The

prevention program will strengthen value-based AB messages in faith-based and community networks, with

the goal of changing individual, social and community norms. This will lead to reduced risk behaviors and

strengthen stable family relationships thereby reducing the HIV infection rate in the target communities.

The program is accredited by the Powell Centre at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Transforming

Tshwane, an ecumenical faith-based initiative focusing on networking and community mobilization in

Tshwane. This program is conducted in support of the Tshwane local government's HIV and AIDS strategy

which is in line with the National Department of Health (NDOH). HospiVision is also accredited by the

NDOH. The Christian AIDS Bureau for Southern Africa has cooperated in the development of the training

program and has provided support in the Western Cape. These partnerships and linkages will contribute

largely to the sustainability of the program.

This activity builds on the successes achieved with PEPFAR FY 2005, FY 2006 and FY 2007 funding.

During the first 18 months of the implementation of the AB program 700 leaders were trained, 57,596

people were reached and an estimated 540,000 people have already been reached through the mass

media program by Radio Pulpit. In addition, at no cost to CompreCare or to PEPFAR, the Northwest

University is conducting an evaluation and analysis of the impact of the personal and community impact of

the Choose Life Program. The results of this study will be made available, annually, in November and will

be used to improve and strengthen the program.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Human Capacity Development

The "Choose life" program is a value-based AB training program for faith, NGO, community and youth

leaders who are targeted and identified through existing networks. "Choose Life" is an experiential basic

(three days) and advanced (five days) accredited training program. The program focuses on two value

frameworks ("the golden rule" and Ubuntu "being through community") as well as six central spiritual values

(respect, responsibility, integrity, fairness, love and service) and enhancing decision-making, assertiveness

and negotiation skills. A trained facilitator conducts workshops with a group of (maximum) 20 participants.

Facilitator capacity building is conducted through a master trainer and mentor training program. By

increasing the number of master trainers, and faith, community, youth and NGO leaders trained, the number

of people reached will increase considerably. "Choose Life (Youth)" has adapted the program for the youth

context. The outcome of this program is to empower participants with knowledge, skills and attitudes to live

powerful, spiritual, self-confident lives by making wise ethical decisions. There will be a particular emphasis

on the role of FBOs in reducing stigma, addressing gender issues and empowering youth and unmarried

people to make abstinence and "be faithful" choices, and for active couples to make "be faithful" choices

that are based on values and supported by life skills. FY 2008 PEPFAR funding will ensure continued

support for fund trainers, workshops, adapt training manuals and handbooks. FY 2008 funding will ensure

geographic expansion of these activities to Free state, Western Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga and

expanding into new areas in Gauteng. Ongoing review and adaptation of the program will be based on

lessons learned from the previous year of implementation. This program will in turn reduce stigma and

discrimination on HIV and AIDS. The participants are identified in various faith-based communities and they

get nominated to attend the course. At the end of each course participants are given evaluation forms and

assignments which they have to perform and bring after six months. This is a train the trainer program,

where trainers are nominated from existing community structures. Once the training is completed, trainers

go back into the community to implement what they have learned and come back after six months for a

review.

ACTIVITY 2: Community Outreach

Leaders trained will form action teams that will initiate the community mobilization activities. The value-

based prevention approach, incorporating "Choose Life" program, includes raising awareness about HIV

and AIDS in faith communities, workshops for community members and youth as well as activities like

church services and catechism for children and youth. Apart from the "Choose Life" program implemented

by CompreCare's prevention partner HospiVision, other prevention activities will be implemented using

several modalities in cooperation with Kurima, a NGO, by means of the Know Your Neighborhood (KYN)

program. Prevention communication will be implemented via a network of trained KYN community

facilitators who are responsible for spreading AB messages within designated areas at the grassroots level

in target communities.

ACTIVITY 3: Mentoring and Implementation Support

Trained community, faith and youth leaders will receive ongoing support through trained mentors and during

follow-up workshops. Mentors will assist participants in the completion of assignments for certification as

well as in the implementation of the program in their communities. This will significantly increase the

numbers of people reached through continuous implementation by trained leaders. HospiVision will

continue to train the KYN Facilitators and Child Care Workers from the OVC program in value-based

Activity Narrative: prevention as well as provide counseling and debriefing services on a regular basis. The mentoring and

implementation support will form an essential part of a quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation

program. Through the monitoring and evaluation process, the impact and effectiveness of the value-based

prevention approach will be assessed. FY 2008 PEPFAR funds will support mentors and mentor

workshops.

ACTIVITY 4: Information, Education and Communication

Via the medium of Radio Pulpit, a national Christian radio station, and other community radio stations, a

media program will emphasize the value-based prevention approach, incorporating the messages of the

"Choose life" program about AB lifestyle choices and life skills based on value frameworks and value-based

behavior change principles. This will be done through interviews, discussion forums and listener-driven

programming. In addition, "Choose life: A value-based response to HIV and AIDS", a handbook will be

published on annually by the Powell Bible Centre. This will be linked with series of AB value-based leaflets

published by "The Christian Literature Fund" specifically aimed at targeting community members, pastors

and leaders of FBOs.

CompreCare and its prevention partner, HospiVision, will contribute towards meeting the vision outlined in

the USG Five-Year Strategy for South Africa (PEPFAR goal of seven million infections averted) by

improving AB preventive behaviors among the youth and adults and increasing effective CBO/FBO

prevention activities.

SUMMARY:

CompreCare, through its partnership with Child Welfare Tshwane (CWT), will identify and provide a holistic

package of services to orphans and vulnerable children and their families. Program activities include

nutrition, shelter, psychosocial, educational, economic and health care support for OVC as well as outreach

and HIV prevention education. Primary target populations are orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), their

care workers, and people living with HIV and AIDS. The primary emphasis is human capacity development.

BACKGROUND:

CompreCare is a South African non-governmental organization (NGO) implementing HIV and AIDS

prevention and care activities under a multi-partner initiative called CHAMPS. The CHAMPS Initiative aims

to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on OVC and their families in the Tshwane metropolitan area,

specifically Mamelodi and Olievenhoutbosch, by raising awareness about HIV/AIDS preventative practices

and through strengthening care and response networks for OVC.

In partnership with Child Welfare Tshwane, the largest service provider addressing the needs of OVC in the

Tshwane metropolitan area, CompreCare recruits, trains and mentors care workers and facilitates

increased access to education and government services for OVC. To date, PEPFAR funding has enabled

CompreCare to train 76 care workers and service 2601 children with care and support services. Child

Welfare Tshwane is a member of the South African Government local Department of Social Development

Forum. This forum was created to strengthen linkages and networks between local government officials and

NGO, CBO and FBO members in order to improve coordination between public and private service

provider's programs. Child Welfare Tshwane has established a partnership with the Ford Motor Company

which donates a facility for their wellness center. The Wellness Center offers a range of services to OVC

and their families including; psychosocial services, prevention education, nutritional counseling and support,

and income generation activities.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

CompreCare's OVC care and support program will focus on the early identification of infected and affected

children and families and ensure that their basic needs (food, health care and education) are met. The

program will conduct household needs assessments and link OVC and their care workers to the appropriate

government and community services. Trained community care workers residing in the target areas enable

CompreCare and its implementing partner to provide comprehensive and holistic care for OVC.

ACTIVITY 1: Training

CompreCare, in collaboration with their implementing partner, Child Welfare Tshwane, will offer a

standardized OVC training and service package/strategy to train and support community care workers. The

training is based on the Iso labantwana ("eye on the children") model that was originally developed by Child

Welfare Cape Town. Child Welfare Tshwane has adapted the model to address the needs of children

infected and affected by HIV and AIDS and has produced a manual for trained volunteers. The training is a

10 module course that emphasizes community-based approaches for the early identification and care and

protection of vulnerable children. Care workers are recruited from the communities, in which they reside and

provided with training in the following; basic HIV and AIDS information and prevention, child abuse and

neglect, assessment counseling and resources, parenting skills, child care act, domestic violence and

maintenance act, substance abuse, management and administration skills. Care workers will also be

exposed to a value-based prevention program (accredited) so as to enable them to render a more

comprehensive prevention education to the OVC and their families. Care workers will also be given the

opportunity to be trained in basic first aid (accredited) which will enable them to more accurately assess the

clinical needs of the OVC. CompreCare and Child Welfare Tshwane provide on site follow-up training and

mentoring for all care workers. In addition, Child Welfare social and auxiliary social workers and M&E staff

provide group counseling sessions for care workers to provide additional mentorship and support and to

share best practices and lessons learned.

ACTIVITY 2: Care and Support Services

The program recruits care workers from target communities to ensure that care and support services are

readily available to OVC. As a result, the program, as a whole, benefits as the care workers are often well-

known and respected by community leaders. The CWT OVC care program already has a cadre of trained,

experienced and active care workers. The focus will be to recruit and train new care workers who can then

slot straight into the work with mentoring in place. The transition will be smoother and more effective.

Already trained and active care workers will be exposed to a continuous program of retraining and so

expanding their capacity to render a more comprehensive service and also to improve the quality of the

service rendered. Care workers are well positioned to easily access the services of other community groups

and service providers including schools, churches, and community care forums. Each care worker reports to

and receives ongoing support from a Child Welfare Tshwane social worker and M&E Officer. When a family

is identified, the care workers complete an initial assessment and develop a plan of action in collaboration

with the social worker for each child and their family. The plan of action details the type of assistance

required by the OVC which includes obtaining identity documents and government social grants, household

budgeting, and distribution of food parcels and establishment of food gardens (made possible through

public and private donations). Care workers provide these services during weekly home visits. Additionally,

care workers provide educational and psychosocial support including school fee exemptions, homework

supervision, care for ill parents/caregiver, succession planning and bereavement counseling for OVC and

their family members. When circumstances exist that require advanced or intensive support, such as health

related issues and child abuse, care workers refer OVC to the appropriate service provider and follow-up to

ensure that the relevant services are provided and that the continuum of care continues for each child. CWT

already offers a comprehensive range of services that are based on the needs of the clients. More

emphasis will be placed onto income generation opportunities and vocational guidance as OVC coming

through the education system are struggling to find employment. The income generation opportunities will

be made economically viable and sustainable.

ACTIVITY 3: Community Wellness Center

Activity Narrative:

In addition to providing home-based support services, Child Welfare Tshwane also manages a community

wellness center that provides care services, five days a week, for OVC and their families. The center

operates a 12 -month intensive therapeutic program that includes individual and group support sessions to

provide information on HIV and AIDS and build coping skills for OVC and their ill caregivers. A full-time

social worker and community volunteers provide OVC with psychosocial support, referrals to social services

and on going training and mentoring to start income generation activities e.g. beading. The program also

offers life skills training for OVC, tailored to the specific needs of the child and includes HIV and AIDS

prevention. Life skills courses are provided through after-school activities, school holiday programs and

group play therapy.

ACTIVITY 4: Linkages

CompreCare and its implementing partner, HospiVision, train care workers in value-based HIV prevention

emphasizing abstinence and fidelity. The program focuses on six central spiritual values (respect,

responsibility, integrity, fairness, love and service) and enhancing the life skills of: decision-making,

assertiveness and negotiation. The training also addresses issues of stigma and discrimination and gender

through role play. Skills learned in the program empower care workers to further support OVC with

knowledge, skills and attitudes to make informed decisions about living healthy, productive lives. As the

CWT program is in an urban setting a comprehensive network of referrals is in place and CWT has a

leading role in this network. CWT has a particularly strong relationship in the health sector and so are able

to ensure that their clients receive the required care and treatment. These linkages will be further

strengthened so as to improve care received by the OVC. USG's contact with the Department of Home

Affairs who assist CompreCare with applications for birth certificates and identity documents is increasing

and this will be further addressed. This will contribute a great deal to the economic strengthening of the

OVC and their families as well as education.

Regarding expansion of FY 2008 COP activities, currently the OVC care program's main focus is on

Mamelodi and Olievenhoutsbosch - based on the greatest needs and under resourced areas. However, the

program will be expanded to other CWT sites in the Tshwane area. These sites are Sunnyside, Mid City,

Atteridgeville, Eersterust and Centurion - these will become the focus for the expansion of CompreCare

services.

CompreCare's OVC program activities will contribute towards PEPFAR goals of providing 10 million people

with care by improving the quality of life of OVC and infected and affected families.