Our doors are open to all children, many of whom come from some of the poorest homes in South Africa. For parents who are not living in Cape Town we provide board and lodging during the critical phase of their child's medical treatment. Most children are medically stabilized and ready to return home within three months of treatment.

In Cape Town, most of our children's parents lack transport. Therefore, we provide outreach support which enables parents to visit their children and to attend workshops that provide them with the training they need to care for themselves and their children.

Both mother and child will need to be on Anti Retroviral medications for the remainder of their lives. For long term success, it is essential that the parents learn the skills necessary to live a productive life with HIV.

Because all of our HIV infected babies and young children have a mother similarly infected, some of our children are orphaned as a result of their parent's succumbing to the AIDS virus. Some of our children are also abandoned. In each of these instances we work hand in hand with the government to secure a foster placement for the child.

The sad fact is that South Africa has 400,000 people who die of AIDS every year and 500,000 new infections each year. While HIV is no longer a death sentence, it will take a Herculean effort to tackle this scourge. St. Joseph's Home for Children is part of the answer. We are working hard with the support of caring donors to make a real and sustained difference in the lives of children and their parents infected with HIV.

Have a closer look at the Sunflower Gallery

I want to take part in this answer and wish to donate.

I want to read more about the project to increase the number of beds to 25.

Also have a closer look at our four medical wards.