Projects

Christ's Hope International UK works with CHI's national organisations in African countries to achieve its objectives to overcome the devastation caused by AIDS in all three areas of its programmes. Set out below are the projects that CHI (UK) is currently involved with and for which we are seeking volunteers and sponsors.

Children's Care

Christ's Hope International operates a number of children's homes for AIDS orphans in Africa. Christ's Hope UK currently sends about £600 per month to feed all of the children in one of our Arks in Rehoboth, Namibia. There is a huge need in Africa for such facilities to provide a loving home for children whose extended family can no longer cope. We would like to provide additional facilities for such children in all of the countries in which we operate. The total project cost is likely to be in the region of US$40,000 for a home which will accommodate 32children. On going running costs also need to be provided.

Education

Christ's Hope UK is currently funding the initial construction of new buildings for Harmony Community School in Kitwe, Zambia. This school will allow all 400+ pupils to attend school on a regular basis as the current facilities require them to share classrooms which are very small and have no chairs or desks. The staff are all volunteers who are supported by the community and provide the only education that these children get. Without the possibility of a real education the children are vulnerable to the ravages of HIV/AIDS and the cycle of destruction may continue.

Educational Development

In most of sub-Saharan Africa, the educational sector is the hardest hit as a result of AIDS. Teachers are dying at an alarming rate. The Minister of Basic Education, Culture, Youth and Sport in Namibia has expressed his concern to the Namibian Parliament. More teachers are dying due to AIDS than graduate from tertiary training institutions. The result is devastating.

The general standard of education is falling. There are often as many as 45 learners in a class. Individual attention is not possible. Once a child has fallen behind, catching up is very difficult. Extra afternoon classes are given to children in our Children's Homes so that they can cope with the demands of their education.

Some children stay out of school because of family problems related to AIDS. Christ's Hope has set the goal to create schools where needed, so that AIDS orphans can be cared for and given a second chance as far as their schooling is concerned. The first such school is under construction in Zambia.

Many teenagers are now the head of households. There are no adults around to teach family norms and traditional customs. Christ's Hope operates children's clubs where teens and children are taught from a biblical perspective how to cope with the demands that this epidemic is placing on them. These clubs usually meet in the Multi-purpose ministry centres that we are constructing.

We will seek government support wherever we can and with the help of the Church worldwide bring about the change needed to help Africa survive the onslaught of AIDS.

Hospice/Clinic Provision

Christ's Hope UK is currently working with medical experts in the field of HIV/AIDS treatments and palliative care to define how hospice care can be delivered in a rural African situation. In rural Africa it is not possible to deliver treatment to the population in city based hospitals, as there is no effective transportation system for patients. This programme will require the provision of appropriate drugs and the laboratory test facilities needed to diagnose the specific conditions. It will enable appropriate treatments to be prescribed to keep those who are HIV positive living with the same quality of life that they would receive in the West and to die with minimum suffering and with dignity. It is hoped that this might lead to a pilot project which could be the basis for many more that could be rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa.