Morning Star is a day care facility for underprivileged children who are
infected with HIV/AIDS. It opened its doors for the first time in January 2000
to admit its first 8 children. Today, 13 years later, over 140 children are
cared for on a daily basis with a further 450 on our register attending schools
in the surrounding Matjhabeng Townships.
Aware of the enormous poverty problem and job losses in our area, we have also
been instrumental in initiating several income generating projects over the past
years. The surviving/thriving 2 are our Food Gardens & Agricultural Tunnel
Project and our Tshedisanang Women's Embroidery and Papermaking Project. Up to
20 adults at a time, all poverty-stricken and affected/infected with HIV/AIDS
themselves, work these programmes each weekday.
Why Focus on HIV/AIDS Positive Children?
AIDS is a socially unacceptable disease accompanied by stigma, isolation and
rejection. Children are vulnerable, dependent and lack the ability to comprehend
what is happening to them.
Children are at the mercy of their caregivers, the community, the institutions
of society, law and policy-makers and service providers.
Children become violently ill because of AIDS, die horrible deaths because of
AIDS and are being orphaned and abandoned because of AIDS.