In November 2000, the Howick Community Church established a social outreach project in the town of Howick and its surrounding communities, specifically Mpophomeni - a township about 12kms outside of Howick, KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa. Programmes have been established aimed at caring for those affected and infected by HIV & AIDS - people who are dying alone, hungry and without hope - as well as for orphaned and vulnerable children. The ministry is called Ethembeni, which means ‘Place of Hope’, and has the following mission statement:
‘To provide spiritual, emotional and practical assistance to families affected by HIV & AIDS in the Howick/Mpophomeni area through the provision of home based care, family support and residential care for terminally ill people.’
Ethembeni works to strengthen the community's existing coping mechanisms and enhance their capacity to deliver quality services to the infected and affected. They have established the following objectives:
- To provide a family support programme to people affected by HIV & AIDS through the provision of services which meet their basic needs and enhance their capacity to cope on a sustained basis.
- To provide a day care centre for vulnerable children, in particular child headed households, which will provide a point of care, support, nurturing and permanency in the lives of these children through service provision in the areas of early childhood development (ECD), psychosocial support and the meeting of basic needs.
- To provide a residential care centre for those people who are dying and have no one else willing or able to care for them or whose care giver is in need of temporary respite care.
- To network with other organisations providing services in the area so as to increase the comprehensiveness of service delivery and avoid duplication.
Main Activities:
Working with Ethembeni is a whole experience of a life of faith. The day is about building relationships with staff and the community. The day will be split between working at the family centre caring for the children, going on home visits and being with Ethembeni staff. You need to be proactive and creative! You will be cooking, playing, teaching, befriending and enjoying spending time with children and young adults. You might find yourself gardening, or doing DIY or teaching. Whatever you do you will be with people who are warm and courageous.
- Teach English, Maths, Business and Science for under 12’s
- Help start vegetable gardens with the local community
- Engage with children’s activities at the family centre
- Lead worship and become involved in the spiritual life of the community, both mentoring and learning
- General maintenance: painting, repairs and so on
- Participating in weekly home visits to people affected by HIV/ Aids
For more information please visit the Ethembeni website.