Archived Projects

HIV/AIDS School programmes

Interactive programmes for Primary and Secondary Schools using music and drama and encouraging active student participation.

The programmes are an audio visual extravaganza covering the basics of HIV/AIDS education through a dramatic fast moving show. It includes nformation on how the learners can protect themselves, destroys the many myths which surround HIV/AIDS and promotes a positive response to people living with AIDS from a Christian perspective.

The teenage programme includes a drama called Captain Condom which hits teenage sexual relationships and head on in an unforgettable way The desperate need for this form of education is underlined by the fact that, sadly, in some of the schools where we run this programme there are pregnant girls as young as 11 years old.

A new addition to the show is an anti drug song emphasising how drugs and alcohol are important factors which hinder wise decision making.

For primary schools: Although much of the material covered is the same as in the secondary school programme, the direct approach to sexuality is replaced by a Stranger Danger section and how to get help if close friends and relatives are behaving inappropriately towards the children. Puppets are used effectively to tackle these highly sensitive topics.  Poster and essay competitions (with prizes) are used as a follow up tool to reinforce learning and to ensure the students have grasped the basics of the programmes   We have received excellent feedback from students and staff through out the country.

We also take the programme on the road around South Africa and into surrounding African countries of Namibia and Zambia and the programmes has been translated in Portuguese and conducted in Mozambique.

*Beneficiaries: 40,000 students so far.

Sunday Club
The Family Africa also runs a club for 300+ disadvantaged children every week for children ages 2-16 which includes sports, music and drama based around character building themes. We also identify those with special needs such as malnourished, abused sick, child headed households or those (over 7 years), who are not going to school and help with the process of finding a school for them.

Additional Youth Club activities for the teenagers include HIV/AIDS education, sports and excursions.

This club also includes a feeding scheme every week and the distribution of clothing and blankets on an ongoing basis. We also provide Christmas parties and presents for them every year.

Beneficiaries: 300-400 children from age 6 months to 16 years old

We have been running our “Second Chance “programme for many years — working towards changing criminals into useful citizens through Christian Leadership courses and personal counselling. In Johannesburg, with one of the worst violent crime rates in the world, we believe giving prisoners a second chance is a valuable programme not only for the individuals but also for the betterment of society as a whole. Underpinning the programme is our belief that it is not sufficient just to punish offenders and then send them back into the world. This programme teaches them about improving relationships, overcoming obstacles and bitterness and learning how to live a better, more productive life based on sound, moral principles. Our prison chaplains pictured here, lovingly and patiently help the prisoners to see that they have still have value and can change to become law abiding citizens.

The Family Africa mobile clinic incorporates an HIV testing room and both pre and post test counselling facilities. Other rapid testing and health screening such as TB, diabetes and blood pressure etc can also be facilitated.

The Family Africa has a team of experienced and accredited counsellors who have been working in the field of HIV/Aids awareness and education for over 17 years. Voluntary HIV counselling and testing has emerged as a major strategy for the prevention of the spread of HIV in Africa. Research findings show that knowing one’s HIV status, whether negative or positive lead to behaviour change and safer sex practices.

Access to early medical care and prevention of mother to child transmission are among many other benefits.

The mobile unit expands our already successful programmes into the rural areas. These are comprehensive prevention and diagnosis programmes that address the various aspects of HIV/AIDS in different contexts such as religious institutions, workplaces, community gatherings and schools (primary and secondary). Peer educators/wellness champions are targeted including teachers, religious leaders, sangomas ( traditional healers) and community leaders. Targeting the whole community helps to lift the stigma and discrimination often associated with HIV specific programmes. Programmes are interactive and include music and drama. Adults are also advised to make the decision to go through the HIV testing process with professional counselling. We work in partnership with existing health care systems.