Last fall I began working as an intern for SOS Children's Villages Canada, as part of the Canadian International Development Agency's (CIDA) International Youth Internship Program (IYIP). After several weeks of preparation at SOS Canada's headquarters in Ottawa, I left for a 5 month placement in Swaziland and South Africa. The purpose of my internship was to work with SOS's Regional Office for Southern Africa II, to document good practices within the organization in the area of HIV/AIDS and community development. This involved being placed in three programs: one in Mbabane, Swaziland, and two in South Africa, located in Mamelodi and Qwa Qwa respectively.
These programs are part of SOS's initiative in the region to strengthen families and prevent the abandonment of children, particularly in families and communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Most programs have been built upon existing SOS facilities and are community-based in terms of providing services directly within the community and using community partners to assist in the delivery of these services.
The programmes provide material and educational support, as well as building the capacity of families and communities to access resources which will enable them to better protect and care for orphaned and vulnerable children. Activities that the programs have engaged in to date include: working with home-based care programs, HIV/AIDS counseling, support groups for people living with HIV/AIDS, income-generating activities, parenting skills training, educational scholarships, and supporting appropriate forms of foster care, to name a few.
During my time in Southern Africa, I worked very closely with SOS's community development staff. I was moved by their overwhelming commitment to their work, and their ability to bring hope to each and every adult and child who walked through the door, no matter how sad or desperate their situation was. Working with AIDS-affected families can be emotionally draining, especially AIDS-affected children, since it breaks your heart to see them endure such hardship. Yet, day after day, my colleagues addressed each case with the utmost care and attention. Their dedication was such an inspiration to me that I was determined to find a way to continue supporting their work after my internship was finished and I had returned home to Canada.
Six months later, I was given the chance to return to Southern Africa as SOS Canada's Field Programs Officer. Of course I leapt at the opportunity! I have just returned to South Africa to work in our Regional Office in Johannesburg, for a year. I will be assisting the organization to better integrate their prevention work (including HIV/AIDS programming) into their mainstream activities, and build capacity in this area. I will also be developing policy around working with community volunteers and partners, as well as implementing processes to encourage self-reliance amongst beneficiary families.
I am looking forward to the exciting year that lies ahead. I can hardly wait to be reunited with my colleagues and the children who made such a big impact on my life. Stay tuned for more updates from the field...
