Projects

Ratang Bana Community Child Support Project

Ratang Bana means “Love the Children”. No one can argue that HIV/AIDS has had a devastating impact on the lives of South African children - according to the UNAIDS Report on the global AIDS epidemic 2010 - in 2009 there were 330,000 children under 15 living with HIV in South Africa and 1.9 million AIDS orphans. It is against this background that Ingrid Moloi, a social worker and resident of Alexandra Township started to offer support to several child-headed households and other disadvantaged young people growing up in Alexandra. Ratang Bana offers care, counselling and financial support for basics such as food and clothing. The project has also helped several children to access education and hope. In addition, Ingrid whose energy is tireless despite not always being in the best of health herself, gets young people involved in sport, leisure and creative activities. She is assisted by a number of local volunteers who provide support to 98 families with 270 children between them. 

Even though the need Ratang Bana faces will always outstrip available funds, support from Gumboots means that Ingrid’s volunteers can take part in skills development programmes and in turn can help many more young people.