By Tim Saunders on
UNICEF ambassador Angélique Kidjo was in Soweto last week to take part in the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Concert, and used the chance to visit a community in Soweto that has suffered greatly from AIDS.
The singer met with workers involved in ISIBINDI, a project initiated by the South African National Association of Child and Youth Care Workers that regularly visits children affected by the disease and helps families cope with the devastating virus.
“We help the family create a routine, making sure the children do their homework, make time to play and have something to eat before they go to school,” said ISIBINDI mentor Hloniphile Dlamini. “We also help the families with birth and death certificates, so that they can apply for child-support grants.”
Kidjo also met with families that benefit directly from the work of ISIBINDI.
“I always believe that we can only help people if they want to help themselves,” she said. “If the community is not involved, then we will never see success. For me, this is a huge achievement.”
More than 48,000 orphans and vulnerable children in eight South African provinces are currently receiving support through ISIBINDI.
Read more about Kidjo’s visit here.
Copyright © 2010 Look to the Stars
Source: Kun Li, UNICEF
