The Connect Network links together over 70 organisations in South Africa, working with more than 70,000 children. The network member projects have formed three topical groups that focus their expertise to help ‘Youth at Risk’, ‘Children at Risk’ and ‘Women at Risk’. The work started in Cape Town but is having rippling effects moving across the country. Connect aims to advocate, assist, aid, support, connect and promote the work that members are achieving by running trainings so that work becomes more effective. They facilitate planning so that work becomes more strategic. But perhaps the most important thing that they do is to create relationships and synergies between the small organizations that are committed and engaged with similar work and are feeling isolated and alone, bringing them into successful partnership.

Network context

The number of orphans in South Africa is increasing by 250,000 per year and 77 per cent of these are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. Of all the children in South Africa, 66 per cent live in “poor households”. A staff member of Connect describes her surroundings in this way:

“By day you see elements of a 1^st world and 3^rd word rolling and crashing together. You see mansions and shacks on the same street, mass industry and activity, building and training and looking at it all you will get a sense of how much has been achieved to improve the circumstances of the poor and previously disadvantaged people. By night the streets tell a different story, those that can, live behinds strong doors and steel fences and those that can’t often toss and turn in fear for themselves and their children as the violence is tangible at night. Crimes against children escalate; sexual exploitation, child trafficking, education deprivation, violence, abandonment and rape. The police are overwhelmed; the population is trying to cope, some through avoidance and denial, some through drunkenness and abuse.

However, you will also find thousands of mama’s that have taken in children that are not their own, stitched up teenagers caught in trouble, and spoken life into defeated spirits. There are those that work tirelessly taking kids off the night streets, providing care to raped children, education and development opportunities for teenage dropouts.”

Network activities

Super Camps are a real highlight for children associated with the network, and they take place bi-annually. 100 children at risk aged 10-13 attend each camp that is filled with fun, education, and spiritual guidance and counselling. All of the children who attend the camps are affected by severe poverty and some are affected by the devastation of HIV and AIDS. For many of the children the camp is an adventure of receiving first time "luxuries" like warm showers, their own bed, their own toothbrush, face cloth and towel, meals three times a day, an extra set of clothing, blankets etc. Such an event is life-changing.

Connect is equipping its members in their administration through Viva’s Quality Improvement System. Starting in 2009, 18 members are working through modules of governance, financial accountability, child wellbeing and protection, staff care and project planning. The aim is to improve the effectiveness of organisations, thus providing quality care to children at risk. This program is linked with Fundisanani, other training courses that strengthen organisations.

Another exciting venture for Connect is their plans to keep children safe from abuse during the FIFA World Cup 2010. According to current statistics, one child is raped every 30 seconds in South Africa. The worry is that this will increase during the international soccer tournament, especially as it is estimated, between 40-100,000 people will be trafficked into the country for the pleasure of fans. Connect's members have created an intensive child protection policy that equips children to keep themselves safe.

Network contact

Connect, P.O Box 1005, Cape Town, Somerset West 7130

T :  +27 21 852 9900  +27 21 852 9900

E : info@connect-sa.net

W: www.connectnetwork.org.za