Beautiful Gate Ministries
Cape Town, South Africa
Beautiful Gate is a registered not-for-profit non-denominational Christian organisation which was established in 1994 for the care of children in need and their families. For some time, it offered residential care for children with AIDS, whose families could no longer care for them. However, Beautiful Gate soon realised that children are best cared for by providing support to their families, and that families are best supported through building the community.
The communities that Beautiful Gate serves – Old Crossroads, Lower Crossroads, Philippi and Brown’s Farm – have one of the highest HIV infection rates in Cape Town. Local government statistics estimate that 28.8% of adults living in the area are HIV-positive.
Within this context, Beautiful Gate runs two programmes that address the needs of children and families affected by HIV and AIDS.
The Community Support Programme concentrates on all the activities that provide support to families, including direct family support, a paediatric antiretroviral clinic, residential care, after-care, and teenage groups as well as holiday clubs.
The Community Development Programme covers all the activities that empower the community to take ownership of the challenges that they face. It includes training, youth work and church mobilisation, to equip the community to respond to the needs of those affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. iThemba’s support focuses on this programme, including youth and church mobilisation initiatives.
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