South Africa: Providing homes for HIV/AIDS orphans
In 2005, South Africa was the bearer of an unfortunate statistic. The country was home to the most orphans as a result of HIV and AIDS in the world – 1.2 million.
Even now, many of these children are abandoned or put in overcrowded orphanages, giving them a bleak future.
Thokomala Homes
It was for this reason that Unilever, together with South African NGO Child Welfare, developed the Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation. Thokomala means warmth or care in Zulu.
Under the initiative, orphans are placed in family homes free from the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. They are also given the support needed to help with the emotional trauma of losing their parents.
Each Thokomala house is run like an normal family home, and houses six children and a foster mother. Volunteers from Unilever South Africa are encouraged to help with the maintenance of the home and to become involved with the children. They mentor older children on a one-to-one basis, helping them with life-skills training, school projects and developing their future plans.
By the beginning of 2008 there were 14 homes housing 84 children situated across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Free State provinces. Families in the communities accommodating the Thokomala homes are also encouraged to foster orphaned children, and have formed cohesive fostering groups known as “foster clusters”. These groups have so far provided homes for 916 children.
Generating support
Gail Klintworth, chairman of Unilever South Africa, and Antje Hockly, manager of the Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation, spoke about the project to business representatives at the annual fundraising event in October 2007 in Johannesburg. They encouraged attendees to become both financially and emotionally involved in the initiative.
