Project NameFamily +1 and GROW

Partner OrganisationHillsong Africa Foundation

LocationCape Town and surrounding districts

Project Timeline2016 - 2017

HILLSONG AID & DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA

Hillsong Africa Foundation has been working in disadvantaged communities since 2004 to promote empowerment through interventions that utilise community strengths and address key needs as defined by the community through a participatory approach. The Family+1 & GROW project was initiated in 2014 and this July 2016 - July 2017 project cycle builds upon an initial pilot project phase.

EUNICE* & ANDRE'S* TEMPORARY SAFE CARE STORYWhen Eunice and Andre, a couple from Cape Town, were asked to consider taking care of a premature baby girl, Kyla*, who had been left abandoned at the hospital, they never imagined how much the experience would impact and enrich their lives. They opened their home to Kyla, giving her a family and making wonderful memories in the process. When they now see Kyla happy with her new adoptive family they know they were the hands that God used to save her life. Soon after Kyla left to be placed with her permanent family, Eunice and Andre were blessed to start a new journey with Angelique*, a little angel with big dark eyes and a sweet smile. Eunice and Andre say they feelmore blessed to give than to receive and again their hearts are being filled as they pour out their love on Angelique.

* Names have been changed for protection.

Eunice and Andre are a beautiful example of a family opening their home to a vulnerable child and in doing so providing a vital source of care and stability at a crucial time in their young lives. The Family+1 program exists to remove barriers to families opening their homes to vulnerable children through Temporary Safe Care and adoption and to support these families on this journey.

“Institutions are not - ever - a better environment for children than a loving family. The more we learn about the brain and how it is negatively affected by the environment in which children grow, the stronger the evidence that children should not be placed in institutions.”

- UNICEF

provides education, guidance and support for Family+1families to open their homes to children, through Temporary Safe Care or adoption. Families are provided with education and training opportunities and they receive starter packs, home visits and mentoring, and legal and medical support if required.

Family +1 and GROWThis project aims to respond to the crisis of orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa through strengthening families in impoverished communities to better cope with the challenges of poverty and providing education, increased access and guidance for families to open their hearts and homes to children through Temporary Safe Care or adoption.

“GROW is designed to help parents to be strengthened and supported and encouraged along the journey so that they…can take on their responsibility as best they can. You can't just help the kids, we needed to help come alongside the parents and

encourage and support them as well.”

To increase the number of available healthy family homes for orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa within their biological families or in foster-adoptive families.

OUTCOME

Facilitate and support families opening their homes through adoption, foster care or temporary safe care in order to reduce inst i tut ional isat ion of orphans and vulnerable children.

KEY OUTPUTS

1 Early childhood development and parenting course, strengthening vulnerable families in order to prevent institutionalisation and improve outcomes for orphans and vulnerable children and their families.

2

Increase awareness, understanding and prioritisation of family-based care for orphans and vulnerable children.

3

The early childhood development program GROWequips mothers with knowledge, practical tools, and confidence regarding their roles and responsibilities, and healthy child development.

“It is important to invest in true family-based alternative care models as part of the deinstitutionalisation process, in order to prevent the ongoing institutionalisation of children who legitimately require alternative care.”

-Australian Council For International Development

Hillsong Aid & Development Australia is a Christian aid and development organisation, motivated and shaped by our faith, to respond to inequality and injustice, seek to relieve suffering, and promote transformation. It is an approved Deductible Gift

Recipient and donations over $2 are tax deductible. For project budget details and ways to give please email info@hada.com.au

HILLSONG AID & DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA

– GROW Project Manager

¹ Chereni, A., & Mahati, S.T. 2014. South Africa's response to orphans and vulnerable children: A literature review. PCD,² UNICEF South Africa 2016. Alternative Care [webpage] Accessed 15.6.2016. Available: http://www.unicef.org/southafrica/protection_6633.html ³ Klasen, S. and Woolard, I. (2009) 'Surviving Unemployment without State Support: Unemployment and household formation in South Africa', Journal of African Economies, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1–51. In Meintjes, H, Hall, K, & Sambu, W. 2015. Demography of South Africa's children. South African Child Gauge 2015.⁴ Meintjes, H, Hall, K, & Sambu, W. 2015. Demography of South Africa's children. South African Child Gauge 2015.⁵ Ward, C., Makusha, T., & Bray, R. 2015. Parenting, poverty and young people in South Africa: What are the connections? South African Child Gauge 2015.

www.hada.com.au | +61 2 8853 5353 | PO Box 1195 Castle Hill NSW 1765 | info@hada.com.au

In 2012, there were an estimated 3.54 million orphans, constituting 19% of all children in the country.¹ Institutional care often results in multiple negative psychological and social challenges for children and community-based strategies are recommended. This is reflected in national policy. The foster system is overburdened and there is a low rate of national adoption.² The care system can often be confusing, overwhelming and inaccessible for families who would be in a position to provide a home for a child. Challenges in family functioning and the spreading and reorganizing of family units are caused by inter-generational poverty, social exclusion and family breakdown prompted by apartheid policies, now combined with high unemployment and increasing economic stress on household livelihoods.³ 39% of all children live with their mothers but not with their fathers; 22% do not have either of their biological parents living with them.⁴ Poverty impacts parents' capacity to provide their children with adequate nutrition and educational opportunities on the consistent basis required for healthy development.⁵

Project Context & Background