Future First projects

The Family Strengthening Programme in Lithabaneng has been set up to help, mainly, child- or grandparent-headed families who have been severely affected by HIV/AIDS. Children receive access to education, which increases their future opportunities and they also grow emotionally from interaction with others and recreational activities. HSBC funding will provide partial support for the project for one year.

The construction of the SOS Children's Village in Lesotho has attracted a lot of settlement in the surrounding area but public utilities have not grown in proportion, particularly water supplies. The flush toilets for the SOS schools and other Village facilities rely on water tanks close to the main gate but are subject to water shortages that affect the entire neighbourhood. This often results in the school being forced to close to prevent a health crisis.

Funding from HSBC will enable the school to construct four pit latrines, freeing up water supplies for the rest of the Village and stopping the enforced school closures.

Support for up to 150 children in the form of healthcare, education and nutrition will be linked to improving their parents' parenting skills to help them protect and care for their children under this family strengthening programme. HSBC will fund the programme for one year.

Access to essential services for 350 children will come from the Family Strengthening Programme in Ennerdale. Families, including those headed by children and the elderly will be supported by the programme. Assistance will be given to children who cannot afford to go to school – such as school uniform and transport costs. Those in child-headed households will receive additional after-school tuition and vocational training, including professions such as bricklayer or electrician, to help them acquire the skills to generate an income for their siblings. HSBC will partially fund this programme for one year.

The SOS Community Development Centre offers a range of programmes including short-term interventions, such as food support relief, and long-term, such as income-generating projects. It is currently helping 10 orphan-headed households, 50 grandparent-headed households, 15 uncle/aunt-headed households and 53 terminally-ill headed households.

The family strengthening programme that HSBC will part-fund for one year, offers children in these households and others access to education through scholarships, school uniforms and stationery and other support.

A family strengthening programme, run by SOS, aims to help the increasing number of child-headed households, many as a result of HIV/AIDS, in Kanyamazane and Tekwane communities. Basic nutrition for children in HIV/AIDS-affected families, who are unable to generate an income; school uniforms and stationery; scholarships for pre-schoolers; income support and bereavement counselling are among the services under this programme.

Around 800 children will benefit from this project, which is being funded by HSBC for one year.

Working in the severely deprived area of France/Slangspruit, the Family Strengthening Programme aims to prevent child abandonment by providing a safety net for them to remain within their community. Up to 600 children who have already lost one or both parents or who are living with a terminally ill parent, will receive basic essential survival services such as food, materials for shelter, education (including school uniform and stationery) and counselling. HSBC's support will fund the project for one year.

The Family Strengthening Programme in Schauderville will work with children in need – particularly orphans and those who are at-risk of abandonment. Essential services including food, materials for shelter, care, education and counselling will be provided to these children and families/households. HSBC will support the programme for one year.

Around 460 children will benefit from the Family Strengthening Programme in Sekhukhune, which will help vulnerable children and households by providing essential services and also psycho-social support such as recreational and music activities. HSBC will support the programme for one year.

Working in Mbabane and Nhlagano, the Family Strengthening Programme supports around 600 children with healthcare, nutrition and education. Support will help protect vulnerable children from drugs, abuse and crime associated with being on the street, while education will give the children a chance at a better future. HSBC will partly support the project for one year.