Caring Schools: Schools as nodes of care and support
The Caring Schools Project uses an action-research methodology to explore an expanded role for schools as nodes of care and support for vulnerable children affected by widespread HIV, AIDS and poverty. It aims to help schools to mobilise role-players in their schools and broader communities to provide a greater level of care and support for children.
The 28,000 schools across South Africa have huge potential to serve as 'gateways' for a range of services for children. The project therefore focuses mainly on the development of a capacity-building programme that expands the roles of schools as ‘nodes of care and support’ to vulnerable children in the context of HIV/AIDS.
The capacity-building programme is presented in a pilot version of Champions for Children Handbook: How to build a Caring School Community (listed for download below, also available in hard copy or CD-ROM). The programme aims to mobilise community and government resources and integrating services delivery at schools to support vulnerable children. Attention is also given to support teachers who inevitably take on an ever-increasing burden of support in communities with inadequate services.
The handbook is being strengthened in 2008/2009 in two kinds of research sites. Partners include Save the Children UK, the Catholic Institute of Education, and the 'Networks of Care', a learning track of Stop AIDS Now!
The project is funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Humanities Instituut voor Ontwikkelingssamewerking (HIVOS).
Further reading
The Journey of Hope: Creating a network of care for the children of Luckau village
Children's Institute & Catholic Institute of Education 2009
Champions for Children Handbook: How to build a caring school community
Pilot edition
Rudolph N, Monson J, Collett K & Sonn B 2008
Children’s Institute & South African Democratic Teachers Union.
Champions for Children Handbook to mobilise caring school communities
Rudolph N 2008
In: Child Rights in Focus, issue number 7, March 2008.
Strengthening schools as nodes of care and support: Report on the Education Policy Roundtable
Hosted by the Children's Institute, Cape Town, 28 - 29 July 2003.
The role of schools in addressing the needs of children made vulnerable in the context of HIV/AIDS
Giese S, Meintjes H, Croke R, Chamberlain R 2003
Health and social services to address the needs of orphans and other vulnerable children in the context of HIV/AIDS - research report and recommendations
Giese S, Meintjes H, Croke R, Chamberlain R 2003
Report submitted to HIV/AIDS Directorate, national Department of Health, January 2003.
Children's Institute, University of Cape Town and national Department of Health, Pretoria.