Sizanani home-based care (HSC) (trip)

Sizanani home-based care (HSC)

  • Johannesburg Airport, South Africa
  • Volunteer Vacations
South Africa, Africa

from £1,425* per person28 DaysYear-round
Basic accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: People and Places - Responsible Volunteering 24 people max
This grassroots community-based project in Soweto provides holistic support to children and families who are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, through a range of home-based care and associated programmes.

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Locations visited/nearby

South Africa, Africa

0 testimonials about this trip.

2 testimonials about the provider, People and Places - Responsible Volunteering:

  • Reviewer: Denise located in Ross-shire Scotland
    I have nothing but praise for the way that the entire volunteer experience was; from initial contact to writing this report, I have had openness, excellent communication and explanation. Thank you!.....
    – Having contacted people and places and submitted  a pen portrait of my personal and profession experience – a task that in itself was very rewarding for me – the placement was negotiated in principle. This was completed in a most professional, friendly and positive way by Kate. .. All very exciting things to do and learn about as well as background recommended reading. At this stage the support and additional information I sought from people and places was supplied by return of email and I was able to chat over possible choices with Kate – I found the whole experience most satisfactory and also learnt much from this part of the placement preparation.......
    thank you for the superb way in which you run the volunteer programme - a very satisfied customer. Thank you!
  • Reviewer: Paul located in Port Elizabeth, Easter Cape South Africa
    Our most recent volunteers, Robin and Jane, have produced an amazing amount thus far. They came to a computer lab that has departmental Cammi software on, that teachers have been using, but after a day or two of observation the recognized that teachers are only using the system to a limited degree in terms of what all it can produce. First step was to work out the software admin system, which they have done, and they have been assisting the teachers coming to the lab, and upgrading the admin of the system making it more relevant in terms of assessments for the teachers of learners abilities. Robin has had a few interesting encounters with the Education Departments Cammi support staff.
     
    They have run a couple of teacher training sessions on excel, and are setting up model lessons on how to effectively use the Cammi programme in a proper way. This will happen next week!
     
    They have standardized all the desktops, so its easier for teachers, and developed worksheets for the students who are in the lab, but cannot access a terminal due to large class sizes.
     
    And Robin has been team teaching in the grade 4 technology class, working on practical tasks that help teach technology!
     
    So their input has been tremendous.
     
    Just so we don’t forget that things never run smoothly, Nomatansanqa Township has been having the water switched off and on over the last 2 weeks. 800 children, no water for hours is not easy to manage. Added to that, getting home to their homestay and not having access to water to bath, is no fun at all. I am pleased to report though that as of middle of this week the water is back on!
     
    They had a wonderful welcoming ceremony this week, with local stakeholders in attendance. Jane was fascinated by the formality of the programme, which seemed forgotten after each speaker as everyone got up to sing some songs.
     
    On their first day, as we arrived at the school, some Grade R children were outside waving SA flags, and carrying little signs that said Welcome Robin and Jane! A real warm welcome.
    Thank you people and places for continuing to send such amazing volunteers! Keep up the good work!

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.

Itinerary

The Project

Sizanani Home Base Care Givers was founded (2000) and initiated by Elizabeth Rapuleng who called other women from her community to help her to fight the devastation of HIV/AIDS.

There are about 50 staff, often working long hours for little to no financial reward. Caregivers see an average of 10 plus children / families a day on their walk-route through the community. The programme is currently supporting nearly 400 individuals.

More and more families in historically disadvantaged communities are facing hardship as a result of various problems, which pose real challenges to communities, parents, leaders and children. The most devastating effects and impacts of HIV/AIDS are the sufferings of children who are left behind as orphans. The traditional support of extended family has fallen away due to the epidemic. Most of the families cannot continue taking care of their relative's children because of the high rate of poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic problems that threaten the fibre of our society.

Sinzanani's mission is to facilitate and implement programmes in three main areas.
 
The Home Based Care (HBC) programme links directly into the local clinic from where they receive their referrals. Caregivers provide support ranging from direct observation, collection and monitoring of medication, home-visits, home based care to terminally ill patients, health talks to campaigns mobilising the community on key issues. and most of all unconditional compassion.

The Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) programme provides much needed psycho-social support, an essential feeding scheme and schoolwork support. This support is extended to include house and school visits to evaluate and monitor the child's extended environmental factors. The children are also encouraged to participate in various extra-mural activities including sports, drama and dance utilising the limited community resources. Where needed OVC's can be referred to social workers in the area, though these services are often rudimentary.

The Extended Public Works Programme serves as an intermediary between government services and the community, providing a supplementary service to the carers and families of the OVC's. The programme assists not just the children but their family and household  to access government services due to them. The programme has been extended to include educational excursions for the children to expose them to otherwise inaccessible activities and promote interest and learning.
Future needs are to establish a fully functional toy library, computer centre and kitchen facilities.

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