COMMENTS WRITTEN BY OUR CLIENTS COMING IN FOR A TEST
"Before I arrived for a HIV test I was concerned I may be HIV positive. Now I have peace of mind. Thank you!"
"This place is definitely awesome, informative and very user-friendly. I will recommend it to my friends." more
NON PROFIT ORGANISATION
The Aids Resource Centre (ARC), established in 2002, is a registered NPO Ref. No. 022-626 governed by a Board of Trustees and currently has offices in Sea Point, Cape Town. We are also registered as a Section 18a Public Benefit Organisation enabling donors to get a tax relief benefit.
MISSION
We serve as A ROAD TO HELP for vulnerable children including those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
SUMMARY
ARC is a church-based ministry that has grown form strength to strength and evolved over the past 9 years. The difficulties we have experienced along the way have only drawn us closer to God, the giver of our strength and we trust Him to guide us each day along our journey.
As it it well known, the HIV pandemic in South Africa is huge and especially evident in the poor communities, often a symptom of poor social development. To combat the disease it requires upliftment and hope for an entire community.
Our areas of focus are:
* in community upliftment
* raising funds for children in dire need
* providing mentorship, facilitation and resources to these children projects
* providing an online HIV support service database
* city wall maps for those wanting to test or looking for HIV support
CURRENT PROJECTS
- Adopt-a-Creche Project - linking businesses to crèches
- Raising funds & providing resources, teacher training & physical needs benefitting the poorest of the poor children ages 0-6 years who are housed in informal shack crèches in the Kosovo and Samora Machel communities of Philippi, Cape Town. We are currently working with approximately 9 unregistered informal crèches housed in shacks in the Kosovo community of Samora Machel, Philippi and another 15 in Samora Machel. Due to the infrastructure of Kosovo, most of these crèches have no way of becoming registered. This does not detract from the rights of the children growing up in this impoverished community to learn, grow and have fun during the day while their caregivers are away looking for employment.
- Kidz Clubs for 3-6 year olds
- Development work with City of Cape Town and other parties in order to acquire land for the development of a Children's Support Centre in Kosovo.
GOAL
Our organisation has chosen to respond to the cry of the children in the community. It is estimated that 5000 children 0-6 year old live in the area we work in.
Our focus is on assisting the most vulnerable of children aged 0-6 years who find themselves in desperate need in the Kosovo and Samora Machel communities of Philippi. This has been in the form of immediate relief to a more intentional involvement leading to transformation in the lives of children and sustainability of projects.
We are deliberate in our approach as we recognise the importance of identifying children at risk and how early intervention and quality provisioning makes it possible for children to grow and develop to their full potential. It is our belief that through a solid foundation in the early years of a child's life with the opportunities we provide, that these children have the potential to become future leaders and make a positive impact on the community as a whole. In addition, offering a quality service can free parents and other adult carers to take up opportunities for education and employment which can dramatically improve the socio-economic status of impoverished families.
Ultimately we believe that through the development of a Children's Support Centre for orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) we could serve to support a great need in the area. It will be holistic, based on Christian values purposed to impact and improve the lives of the children and families in the Samora Machel/Kosovo community. The plan is for it to focus on educare for 240 of the most vulnerable children, incorporating the Jubilee Curriculum Educational Programme (a proven recipe) which aims to prepare children not only for primary school but for life, as well as physchological, nutritional, entrepreneurial support for parents, residential support with safety homes for emergency cases, spiritual support with a church for children and recreational support offering weekend and holiday programmes. The Centre would be developed and managed by Watoto Childcare Ministries, our umbrella body.
