Background

Friends For Life is a Non Profit Organisation based at Mpophomeni Township with a population of (21 695 mpophomeni) under uMngeni Municipality (Howick) with a population of (73 895 uMngeni) outside Pietermaritzburg uMgungundlovu District Municipality.

Friends For Life was originally established in 1999 by the two Community Organisations called Mzamo Youth Group and Isibani Child Care Project. These projects were formed because there was a need of highlight the plight of HIV / AIDS. Service available to people only resolved around the prevention of HIV / AIDS and not so much on giving care and support. Since services rendered by Friends for Life were not funded therefore volunteers had to fundraise to sustain the project and its services.

Eventually FFL was funded by National Department of Health (NDOH), When it had a one (1) years tender contract to do Home Based Care through the Institute of Urban Primary Health Care (IUPHC), NDOH, & FFL. The reason for this was because National Department of Health wanted to know which one is cost effective between the Hospital Care, Hospice or Home Based Care (HBC).

Main Objectives

* To help people living with issues related to HIV / Aids, to enhance and maximize the quality of their lives.
* To offer friendship at time when others may be fearful, condemnatory or insensitive to the plight of people living with Aids.

Mission Statement

Friend for Life is a Community based Organization providing care, support and empowerment to the broad spectrum of people living or affected with HIV/ Aids. We offer friendship at times when others may be fearful, condemnatory or insensitive to the plight of people with HIV / Aids, To provide centre for counseling, training, support and friendship for people with HIV / Aids, their families as well as volunteers.

Services Rendered by Friends For Life

* Home Based Care - Conducting Support Groups and offering Care and Support to Children in Schools and in their families, People Living with HIV / AIDS (PLWA's) , Referrals to other service providers or Government Departments. Distributing food parcels to disadvantaged children and adults so that they become active citizens for Community Action. Developed networks with relevant stakeholders/ Service Providers. Conducting Home Based Care Trainings and Promoting Awareness Campaigns to learners, and Developed Network with relevant stakeholders/ services providers. Friends For Life Care Workers during their home visits

* Counseling - Dealing with Sexual Offences, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and HIV / AIDS related matters. Clients are encouraged to drop in at any time at FFL offices for chart and cup of coffee and we have run an extremely successful support group for newly diagnosed clients. Counselors are doing talks/ presentations on issues related to HIV / Aids, Sexual Abuse, Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Domestic Violence at Mpophomeni Clinic, Schools and Police Station

* Orphan Care - Offering ongoing Home Visit, Counseling, Trainings and Awareness Campaigns, Food Parcel Distribution, School Uniforms, Clothing, Referrals to Social Welfare and Population Development and Home Affairs through Grants and Birth Certificates. Care givers visits the different HIV / Aids homes for abandoned children to offer emotional and physical support which they all in need.

* Self Empowerment/ Support Group - Establishing and maintaining of Vegetable Gardens in order to provide People with HIV / AIDS with fresh vegetables, Providing trainings on Bead Work, Producing and selling of Bead Work. Friends for Life is involved in Coordinating and Facilitation of Self Empowerment / Support Group so that the Community can depend on themselves rather than relying on outsiders for Community Action. Support Group members are being given lesson embroidery and bead making which will be able to sell these generating an income and giving them back their self worth.

* Toy Library - Offering fun to children as they are supposed to visit FFL Toy Library Site to play and Lend Toys and help them on their home works. Encourage children to engage themselves on activities like sports and arts, FFL also assist disadvantage children in terms of history like taking them to museums, art galleries, to throw Christmas parties for the children of Mpophomeni and Surrounding Areas. Friends For Life Toy Library Learners utilizing the Toy Library Zinhle from SABC interviewing one of the learners about Toy Library Area of Operation Mpophomeni Township Surrounding Areas Awards Friends For Life Awarded a Certificate in recognition of developing from poverty relief project into and independent entity.