Field report (HIV/AIDS) from Ennerdale, South Africa

When the FSP co-ordinator from the SOS family strengthening programme in Ennerdale makes her rounds of some of the beneficiary families in the programme she is greeted cheerily and asked about all sorts of services such as food parcels, child care grants, school fees and jobs.

SOS beneficiaries continue with life while still relying on the SOS family strengthening programme.

It's the start of autumn and the leaves are falling from the trees with a cool chill in the air. Mama Jo, however, is not deterred by the change of season. She is spring cleaning inside and outside, in autumn. "With ten children in a four room divided shack we need to clean regularly," she says. Mama Jo is outside washing all the children's clothes and bedding by hand in a large metal bath. Her daughter is scrubbing the kitchen floor, pots and pans and young Neo is washing his socks and shirts.

"You must come by the social centre to collect your food parcel," says the SOS family strengthening programme co-ordinator from Ennerdale. "We have some nice fresh fruit and vegetables and a big bag of maize meal." Mama Jo sighs, clearly she is tired and it is not even noon yet. "I will try to make it but there is so much cleaning to do." She hesitates, thinking of all the mouths she has to feed, she says, "I will send my eldest son later this afternoon."

Mama Jo has three biological children and the other seven are her two sisters'. The sisters died from HIV/AIDS. "I am all the children have left," she smiles sadly. "They are a joy and I love all of them very much but we struggle every month." The family strengthening programme co-ordinator tells Mama Jo that the applications for the child care grants will, hopefully, be ready soon. She is happy at the news as this will mean some money for the family.

Supporting children in the community at Ennerdale, South Africa

The next stop on the programme co-ordinator's agenda is a sibling-headed household. "We helped the eldest sister, who is the caregiver, get a job. The middle girl ran away from home but she came back and is now settled in school. We pay for her tuition, school uniform and books. The youngest child is doing well at school."

Sera is cooking a meal for her sister and brother. "When my sister comes back from work she is very tired so I do the cooking. My brother is out playing and should be home soon." The family strengthening programme co-ordinator asks Sera if they are doing OK. "Yes, we are managing. I am enjoying school now and I really like the interior design subject of the course," she assures.

Making her way back to the social centre the co-ordinator gets ready for the afternoon's work of handing out food parcels. "This is a basic service we offer but it is very necessary. It often means the difference between food on the table that night or not."

For privacy reasons, we have changed the names.

SOS Children has been working in South Africa since the early 1980s, and runs an FSP at Ennerdale which supports more than 500 children and their families in the local community with practical assistance.