Rhona (a Hospice sister) and Nombulelo (who has been HIV+ for 15 years) started this group in 2005. It was started by these incredible women to give much needed support to children in the townships (poorest areas) of Knysna, South Africa who are either infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. They began by gathering the children of the patients that Hospice already had. They would get together twice a week and provide donated soup and sandwiches to the children. Volunteers would educate the children on HIV/AIDS and the children sang songs, did traditional dance, and acted out small dramas portraying various situations of children either infected or affected somehow by HIV/AIDS.

Today:

Today the small group of 30 children has doubled in size and many of the children who have recently joined are there for the emotional support and the donated food. More often than not the donated soup and sandwiches is their only meal of the day. Many of the children take their sandwiches home to have food to take to school the following day. They meet on Monday and Thursday afternoons at a small church in the township of Concordia.

The children’s ages range from 3-17 years old. This support group is crucial to their lives. They learn so much from the volunteers and the support of their peers is so important to them being able to deal with the circumstances they have been given. They have out grown the space in the church that they meet in. They need a structure of their own to be able to continue this vital part of their lives. By donating, you can help this shelter to be built.