whythawk ratings: measuring effective development

Rating Report for Demonstration Health HIV / AIDS Orphanage B

Profile

Contact Details

Name: Demonstration Name
Telephone: Demonstration Number

Service Offering

HIV / AIDS orphanage child-care; age 0 - 10

Geographic Coverage

South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg to Pretoria - centre located in Alexandria

Accreditation / Membership

Recognised by Gauteng Health Department

Organisation Capacity

26 children total capacity, currently have 24 children

Volunteers

Utilise the services of eight volunteers, currently seeking volunteers to start in April 2007

Funding Requirements

Has regular funding from A Specific Donor, but has a short-fall of R 150 000 that requires sponsorship

Organisation Summary

Demonstration Health HIV / AIDS Orphanage B is an initiative of the Alexandria Community Outreach Project and has been operating since 1999. The original building was sponsored by the Danish Government, although they are no longer involved with the initiative.

At full capacity, Demonstration is able to look after the needs of 26 children. They currently have 24 children in residence. Children are usually brought by their relatives in the Alexandria community. Demonstration attempts to ensure regular contact with the families, but many are extremely poor and unable to care for the needs of these children.

Positive Rating Factors:

• The managers are highly skilled and motivated
• Doctors are skilled and make regular visits to ensure the physical health of the children
  

Negative Rating Factors:

• Funding is sporadic and insufficient to ensure continuity of operations
• Lack of funding is leading to reduced overall care of the needs of the children
• Specific concern is raised over the lack of play facilities and the limited interaction and support that each child receives
  

Aspects

Inception, Participation & Infrastructure

Demonstration has been operational for eight years and was initially supported by the Danish Government. The original buildings are well-designed and well-thought-out. The first director of Demonstration, Mama Matamane, was a dynamic and inspiring leader. She was a good fundraiser and ensured good relations with the community. Families were extremely involved in the day-to-day operations of the child-care facility and ensured stimulation of the children. Subsequent to her death in 2004 Demonstration has struggled to find as charismatic a leader. A number of directors have attempted to run Demonstration but with limited impact. Currently, John Zanele is acting in a temporary capacity to ensure that the basics are taken care of. Unfortunately he is also the full-time director of the nearby HIV / AIDS Education Project and does not have the time to manage both.

Funding Requirements

Demonstration has lost the confidence of donors and only A Specific Donor still continues to fund the operations. The community has stopped contributing as they no longer feel involved. The current shortfall is approximately R 150 000 per year.

Development Community Character

Demonstration has lost the confidence of their community and few relatives visit the children anymore. Staff are demoralised and there is limited scope for improvement. Many of the most experienced staff have been recruited by the Gauteng Health Department. Doctors are volunteers from private practice in the Sandton area and are a determined and committed group. It is their support which has allowed Demonstration to continue their current level of operations.

Rating Factors

Ownership, Governance, and Management

Demonstration is a registered charity and has a board of governance. They are chosen from the community and meet only once every six months. They have not met in more than a year and there is doubt as to whether any of them are still active. The managers operate in a vacuum and, while they have sufficient skill, there is little guidance. Without the recruitment of a dedicated and committed director the governance is likely to decline.

Operational Effectiveness

The level of care is sufficient to keep the children alive but is not sufficient to stimulate them. Note the poor external environment score. Children are not taken on outings away from the centre and have little interaction with care-givers other than at meal-times and from medical staff.

Capacity & Strategic Planning

A director is required but there is little indication that much effort is being put into recruitment.

Ongoing Disclosure

Demonstration is making information available to Whythawk and has been more than willing to participate in ongoing disclosure.

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