Who is ASAP

African Solutions to African Problems (ASAP) supports grassroots organizations of women running drop-in centres for orphans and children made vulnerable by AIDS in South Africa.

We are implementing the ASAP 6-year Model that develops and strengthens informal groups into mature community-based organizations of women, capable of giving comprehensive care to the vulnerable children within their communities.

Since 2003 ASAP has contributed to about 700 women caring for over 15,000 children with nutrition and broad-based care, with access to education, health services and social welfare.

ASAP believes in the value of home-grown solutions and that sustainable development begins with people and the ownership and realization of their ideas.  Any change and intervention must stand in organic relationship to what the people on the ground are already doing.

By encouraging them to develop their own models of care, in conjunction with the services that ASAP provides in the drop-in centres, these organizations and their networks of women are able to scale up and replicate to feed, clothe and educate children. Listening and understanding, encouraging and focusing on strengths, responding and supporting appropriately have all helped ASAP to develop, practice and refine our intervention.

We have received reports from teachers, children, community members and caregivers which indicate increased school attendance, and improved health and nutrition of the children we serve.

As we empower smaller organizations to meet the challenges of governance, accountability, and organizational development, we will see stronger and more sustainable programmes emerge.

ASAP advocates for child rights, women’s rights, for improved health care and social services in rural areas, as well as for literacy and to provide libraries in public schools.