Masiphumelele, South Africa

Orphan Care

The Township of Masiphumelele, located about 45 minutes south of Cape Town, South Africa, has an estimated population of between 35,000 and 40,000. The official governmental statistics proclaim that approximately 25% of these people are HIV+. However, those who work in this township believe that the actual figure is over 50% - and rising. While anti-retro viral (ARV) drugs are available, free of charge, from the provincial government, only a small minority of those infected actually use the drugs. This is because there is such a negative stigma attached to admitting that you’re HIV+ that they refuse to even be tested for HIV. They seem to be operating under the premise, as do many of us in the western world, that “what I don’t know won’t hurt me.”

As a direct result of many years of this “turning a blind eye” to the problem and the disastrous consequences which this action (or rather inaction) has brought about there are now hundreds, maybe even thousands, of children in Masiphumelele who are at great risk. Many are HIV+ themselves and don’t know it. Many more have been orphaned as both of their parents have succumbed to this terrible disease. And still many more are being deserted or abandoned or mistreated by parents who are too sick (or too addicted to drugs and/or alcohol) to look after them or sometimes even to care.

Currently there are few institutions set up to handle this steadily increasing problem. There is one institutional safe-house in the area for older children, but there isn’t a safe place for younger children to escape abuse or abandonment and to experience love and stability. African Hope Trust is working on a solution to this very problem. They have worked with the South African government to get permission to build and run a safe-house for younger children in the township of Masiphumele. The first of two houses is built, furnished and ready to go. They recently found a Xhosa speaking house-parent. On April 21, 2011 the very first child was placed in the home with Rachel (the house-parent) This house will eventually become home to six children. Construction of the second house should begin soon.