Ikageng Itireleng AIDS Ministry

Officially founded in 2001, Ikageng Itireleng AIDS Ministry is a registered, non-profit organization that cares for AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in Soweto, South Africa, which is an urban township on the southwestern edge of Johannesburg. When Ikageng began, there were 53 children being cared for, today Ikageng cares for over 1,700 children who have been affected by HIV/AIDS. Children come to Ikageng through many means, some are referred by a hospice care, funeral parlors, or schools; some are assigned by the government, some show up on the doorstep in search of help, and some are brought by neighbors or children who are already under Ikageng’s care. Regardless of how the children come to Ikageng, they all receive care.

Ikageng is unique in that it maintains the family unit by keeping siblings together in their homes and in their communities. In order to accomplish this, Ikageng is an outreach organization, not an orphanage. The 1,700 children at Ikageng reside in approximately 400 households spread across Soweto, with about 65% of the households having an adult caregiver, such as an aunt or grandmother, living with them. The remaining 35% of the households are child-headed, meaning there is no adult present and the oldest sibling is the head of the household.

Ikageng provides support by ensuring that the children are in school, have uniforms, receive monthly food deliveries, have electricity, receive necessary medical care, and are safe in their home environment. In order to ensure that the children’s needs are met, Ikageng has fieldworkers who are assigned to each household. Fieldworkers are responsible for conducting home visits and documenting the needs and condition of the home and the children. In addition to the fieldworkers, Ikageng has a full-time team that is constantly working to improve the level of care for the children, coordinate activities, and secure funding for the organization.

Kidlinks has been supporting Ikageng since 2006. To learn more visit their website.