Africaid is a community based organisation in Zimbabwe which, through its Zvandiri programme, integrates health services, community outreach, advocacy and psychosocial support for children and adolescents living with HIV.
It started in 2004 when a group of HIV positive children in Harare wanted to establish a support group where they could share experiences and develop skills for growing up with HIV. The group was named “Zvandiri” by Amanda, a 14 year old girl, at the first support group meeting in 2004. She wanted to say “I am a child with HIV, but accept me as I am”. Today, Amanda is a mother, young woman and role model to HIV positive children and adolescents across Zimbabwe.
Six years later, this one support group has grown in to the ”Zvandiri” programme, with 1500 HIV positive children and adolescents supported in 2010. Most importantly HIV positive children and adolescents are at the heart of the programme, taking the lead in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating all of Africaid’s programmes and activities.
This work has relied on the tremendous support from the National AIDS Council, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the City Health Department, the clinics we collaborate with and of course, our donors.
