SUMMARY: Activities are carried out by Children in Distress (CINDI) in KwaZulu-Natal, to support expansion of services aimed at improving the lives of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and families affected by HIV and AIDS through providing comprehensive services and to strengthen communities and ensure that the needs of OVC are met. The primary emphasis is the development of networks/linkages/referral systems to support OVC and the minor emphasis areas are community mobilization and participation and training. Specific target populations include orphans and vulnerable children in schools, HIV-infected families, caregivers, teachers, community leaders, religious leaders and community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs).

BACKGROUND: CINDI, founded in July 1996, consists of over 100 member organizations (NGOs, CBOs, FBOs) that collaborate to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on children in KwaZulu-Natal. This project is part of a larger initiative implemented by CINDI members. FY 2007 funding will be the first year of PEPFAR support to CINDI. Four member organizations are implementing the project for CINDI - Project Gateway, Sinani, LifeLine and Youth for Christ/ KwaZulu-Natal (YFC/KZN). Both LifeLine and Youth for Christ receive PEPFAR funds in other program areas and have no OVC activities that overlap under this CINDI project. CINDI activities are supported by the South African Government (SAG) through the Department of Education, with whom CINDI liaises in selecting the targeted schools; LifeLine and Project Gateway have both received accreditations from the provincial Department of Health as counseling and testing (CT) sites. CINDI will address gender issues through increasing access to services for girls/women; will encourage the participation of males as facilitators and caregivers wherever possible (since they are mostly female); will prioritize gender issues within targeted schools.

ACTIVITIES & EXPECTED RESULTS: CINDI will carry out the following activities:

ACTIVITY 1: Life skills training This training for OVC will provide life skills, peer education training and promote learner access to CT (and encourage access to pediatric ARV therapy) in 14 targeted primary and high schools in FY 2007. Lifeline and Project Gateway have both been accredited as CT sites and have mechanisms in place for formal referral systems for children identified. Children identified will be followed up with care and support activities aimed at orphans and vulnerable children and their families. The 14 targeted primary and high schools will be provided with training for learner peer educators and selected teachers. All learners will participate in a creatively-designed school-based presentation which will increase their knowledge and information on HIV and AIDS and related issues such as stigmatization and discrimination, gender issues, CT and age appropriate sexuality training to motivate for abstinence and encourage behavior change. Learners will also participate in a 4-day HIV and AIDS intensive workshop which will increase their knowledge on safe healthy sexual behavior, HIV messages, personal development and gender issues and skills in accessing grants, fees exemption from schools, skills in heading up child-headed households, which will facilitate positive behavior change. In addition, all learners voluntarily participating in CT will be able to communicate what they have learned about voluntary testing in their communities and be encouraged to live their lives responsibly. Learners participating in CT will be assisted in dealing with previous and/or current sexual abuse and serious sexual offenses will be taken up through the legal system. Life skills in accessing grants, etc. will assist the learners in schools to be aware of their rights, build resilience and individual empowerment. Youth workers in schools will assist, provide support, and refer the child to the necessary sub-partner who will ensure that their needs are met. FY 2007 funding will support staff and youth workers to provide these services in the targeted schools. Sustainability of these activities is built in through the training of interested and committed teachers within each school who will support the activities into the future, and the trained learner peer educators will be enabled to continue with the activities. Youth workers and peer educators will have first contact with OVC and provide necessary support and care before referring. Schools will also be linked directly with organizations and government departments who can provide ongoing services.

ACTIVITY 2: OVC and Family Support CINDI will identify OVC in the 14 target schools, and OVC will be provided services to

improve the quality of life of vulnerable children, and HIV-infected individuals and their families. The families and caregivers will be supported through capacity-building activities to provide better care for their households; the stability and sustainability of families will be increased through access to shelter, food (in conjunction with the DoSD), economic support, education, psychosocial support and health care. Identified families will have at least one child who attends one of the 14 target schools. FY 2007 funding will support CINDI staff and trained volunteers working with the families to deliver the required services. Sustainability of these activities and services is provided through training of caregivers, linking families with relevant government departments and organizations who provide ongoing services, and through capacity-building provided to household providers/caregivers.

ACTIVITY 3: Psychosocial Support CINDI will provide good quality comprehensive and compassionate care for children orphaned by AIDS and other vulnerable children to help ensure they grow up to be healthy, educated and socially well-adjusted adults, through all CINDI sub-partners. The identified children will come from targeted primary schools. OVC will participate in a Structured Group Therapy Program which effectively reduces distress and builds resilience, with the aim of decreasing depression while increasing children's access to social support. The duration of therapeutic sessions will vary according to the child's or group's needs. Youth and adult community leaders and members will be sensitized to the needs of OVC which will result in an increase in community- awareness of the needs of OVC in communities. This activity is facilitated by Senani, one of the CINDI members specializing on psychosocial support with a counseling psychologist to transfer skills to trained facilitators and volunteers.

All the four CINDI members will ensure that each OVC counted is provided with at least a minimum of three services which include access to education, health care, psychosocial support, pediatric HIV and AIDS treatment, legal assistance, etc.

The CINDI OVC activities will contribute to PEPFAR's 2-7-10 goals by improving access to care for 10 million people, including OVC.