... Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love and in purity ...

1 Timothy 4 v 12

Youth, Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Youth support for those affected and infected by AIDS and HIV at Waterberg Welfare Society

WWS work with youth, orphans and vulnerable children is based at Timothy House, our purpose-build youth centre which was completed in 2006. In addition to an after-school Youth Group, we also provide community-based youth programmes and support groups for orphans and vulnerable children.

After School Programmes (Youth Group)

We run a youth group at Timothy House, Monday to Thursday from 15h00 to 17h00. The Youth Programme aims to promote education and a healthy life style, with a particular emphasis on awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS. The youth group activities include:

  • English classes
  • film club
  • dance classes (including ballroom and traditional dance)
  • drama
  • traditional games
  • life skills and health promotion programmes, in which drama, art and music are used as media to address difficult issues
  • sports (including football, netball and aerobics)
  • educational outings
  • gardening projects
  • peer outreach - we encourage those attending Timothy House to promote the messages of prevention and support to their peers in the local community.

Community-based Programmes

In addition to the Youth Group at Timothy House, we also organise and run events and meetings within the community. These include:

  • schools programmes - WWS staff run life skills programmes and HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness workshops in the local and surrounding farm schools.
  • community awareness campaigns - the Youth department works with other WWS departments to raise HIV/AIDS prevention awareness in the community, surrounding farms and churches.
  • community partnerships - WWS works closely with government departments and community leaders such as teachers, principals, parents and youth leaders to share information and build relationships, and to promote and support capacity-building initiatives to support children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Orphans and vulnerable children support for those affected and infected by AIDS and HIV at Waterberg Welfare Society

The aim of our Orphans and Vulnerable Children Programme is to improve the quality of life of the orphans and vulnerable children of Mabatlane and the surrounding area. In addition to the activities at Timothy House for the general youth, we also provide support specific to the needs of those children affectd by HIV/AIDS, through the following services:

  • feeding scheme
  • bereavement counselling
  • life skills and health education programmes,with a particular focus on HIV/AIDS