Education
- ASAP supports pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary education for orphans and vulnerable children in order to yield healthy, self-reliant young adults who contribute back to the community.
- ASAP believes that education is fundamental to a child's welfare; how a child performs in school can be an important indicator of their overall well-being.
- School is potentially a community ‘safe place’ where responsible teachers can monitor vulnerable children.
- Children not enrolled in school are more vulnerable to neglect and abuse, and to developing and expressing anti-social behaviour.
Challenges
- Orphans and vulnerable children are often excluded from recent government legislation to subsidize ‘no-fee paying’ primary schools to improve access.
- School uniforms are compulsory and very few orphans and vulnerable children can afford them.
- Many children, mostly girls drop out of school to care for HIV+ parents and to manage the family and household.
Services Provided
Early Childhood Development Training and
Supplies:
ASAP supports Early Childhood Development Centres caring for orphans and vulnerable children under the age of 6 years. We provide child care workers with best practice Khululeka High/ Scope training in Early Childhood Development. ASAP also provides learning materials and toys, infrastructure and food garden supplies. ASAP helps to facilitate access to government grants.
School Enrolment:
ASAP provides school fees, learning materials, school uniforms, shoes, sports fees and fees for computer classes. Since 2003, ASAP has supported over 2000 orphans and vulnerable children in school, who otherwise would not have received an education.
Higher Education:
ASAP provides youth with access to technical college for skills development. Students volunteer time back to their community-based organization, becoming peer educators and encouraging young people to work hard in school and go on to higher learning.
Advocacy:
Child care workers advocate for children’s rights in school, conducting strategic planning meetings with Department of Education in order to ensure orphans and vulnerable children have access to free education.
