Creating homes and a family: The Community Mother Programme as an intervention with orphans and vulnerable children living in the townships of Cape Town

Abstract

There is a general assumption that families effectively cope with HIV/AIDS. Careful examination shows that this is not the case. Such families break up and their members end up joining other households. There are, however, some individuals who manage to cope successfully. This study attempted to explore the various ways in which black South Africans involved in the Community Mother Programme are applying their understandings of social life in the townships of Cape Town in order to create homes for themselves, orphans and other vulnerable children. In these homes, that are scattered throughout the townships, children learn how to deal with their problems in positive and appropriate ways in order to break the vicious cycle of negative coping strategies that provide only temporary relief. The Community Mother Programme enables participating children to understand that it is possible to have trusting and healthy relationships with others, despite prevailing ideas about witchcraft, ancestors and envy. The knowledge that community mothers and child counselors acquire in this program is then shared with the rest of the community. The Community Mother Programme thus not only supports orphans and vulnerable children, but also the families, households and communities in which they live.