PEPFAR Community Grants Team Visits Moepathutse Children’s Home

By Sean Moffatt | Community Grants Officer | September 17, 2012

Community Grants provided MHC a PEPFAR second grant to establish a bakery that is generating income for the orphans and the youth programs, and also creates local employment.

Nestled in the township of Stinkwater, Hammanskraal (north of Pretoria), the Moepathutse Children’s Home (MHC)  provides a residential center for orphans and vulnerable children, and a community youth center. At present, MCH provides shelter to 49 orphans, 16 which are on HIV anti-retro viral treatments. In addition, MHC supports 77 orphans and vulnerable children from the community with homework assistance, cultural and sports activities, and meals.

MCH serves as an illustrative example of how the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Embassy Community Grants program have built sustainable and effective community-based organizations which provide these services on a local level, something the South African health and social welfare system do not always manage to address.

With funds from PEPFAR, the U.S. Embassy Community Grants program was the first donor to fund the organization. In 2008, Community Grants provided MCH with $10,000 to establish a garden to feed orphans and to train care givers. Today the garden still provides food for the community and children living with HIV. However, with the U.S. seed money, the organization was able to attract other donors, including corporate donors such as MultiChoice, church groups and soccer associations, and the South African Department of Social Development now also provides financial support.

In 2011, Community Grants provided MHC a PEPFAR second grant for $15,000 to establish a bakery that is generating income for the orphans and the youth programs, and also creates local employment. To date, the bakery generates about R20,000 per month and has employed three community members.

Note: This article was written after the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator Southern Africa Regional Team Leader, Emily Chambers, Community Grants Country Manager, Sean Moffatt, and Community Grants Officer, Linah Langa, paid a visit to the Moepathutse Children’s Home (MHC).