adopting a child focus

“… Despite the progress of the past decade, too many children living in South Africa still fall through the cracks of the social welfare system during their formative years. However, the expansion of social security for children since 1994 is an extraordinary achievement. Through the Care Dependency, Child Support and Foster Care Grants, South Africa is mitigating the widespread poverty affecting millions of children, primarily as a consequence of high unemployment.

Yet, looking forward, how should the success of today’s care and protection, health, nutrition, education and safety net policies targeted at children be measured, say for example, 15 to 20 years from now? It can be argued that the only true measure of success would be a substantial reduction in the proportion of children eligible to receive any of the above-mentioned grants, provided that income thresholds used to define grant eligibility keep pace with inflation.

Such a decline will take place if, and only if, the current generation of children receive the care and protection that they are entitled to; if they accumulate the human capital required to live healthy lives; if they are able to join the labour force better equipped than their parents, and, consequently, have better means to support their offspring.”

understanding the need to work with men

Men are the key in curbing the spread of HIV, reducing the violence and abuse that plagues our country and in the promotion of child and community wellbeing. Given TAI’s excellent track record in male focussed projects and the obvious necessity for such projects, TAI will continue to invest in the development and improvement of masculinities projects.

“On Saturday, 1 November 2008, the Carnarvon SAPS arrested an 18-year-old man for the alleged rape, indecent assault and assault of a 10-year old girl, her 75-year old grandmother and 54-year old disabled uncle. On Friday, 31 October 2008, at approximately 21:15, there were a knock on the door of the victims. The uncle went to investigate but found that the door have been opened already. The accused was already in the house, armed with a brick and a knife. The accused forced the victims to the bedroom. He threatened the victims that he will kill them. The accused assaulted the grandmother and raped her. The accused then assault the girl indecently. The uncle could not help them, because he is disabled.”¹

kwazulu natal - land in crisis

Although beautiful and blessed with a rich heritage and culture, KwaZulu is burdened by: High levels of poverfty, unemployment and hunger; The largest provincial population but the third smallest land area; High levels of inequality, violent crime, sexual assault and murder; Overall declining municipal service provision and the second lowest level of municipality operating expenditure per household in South Africa; Extraordinary operational difficulties in the Provincial Department of Health; HIV prevalence of 39,1% in pregnant women between the ages of 15 and 24 years and an overall prevalence of 16,5% - the highest in the country; and of all of the provinces, KwaZulu Natal has the lowest life expectancy.

Based on this information, TAI believes there is still a need for our programmes and services in KwaZulu Natal, specifically in the Midlands area we now operate in.