constance. doing whatever she can.

serving communities better.

In South Africa, the Department of Social Development supports centers for children and vulnerable youth. The Government Capacity Building Support program, funded by USAID/PEPFAR and implemented by Pact, helps these centers better serve communities. The Tjakstad Drop-In Center, administered by Constance Maduwa, supports hundreds of children in the community with consistent meals, HIV education and access to testing and treatment services.

For Constance Muduwa, managing the Tjakstad Drop-In Center in Mpumalauga province is more than just a full time job – it’s a lifestyle. One the day we visit, the center is quiet. Schools are closed for the winter holiday and Constance is catching up on the paperwork that has piled up over the last couple of busy weeks. She pulls papers from cardboard boxes and spreads them out on the table before her: intake forms, attendance sheets, inventory lists, timesheets.

In Elukwatiutu town, where the center is located, very few adults have full-time job. Many move out of the community to find whatever work and income they can elsewhere, often leaving children with grandparents for years, even lifetimes. Some children are abandoned by parents who leave, others orphaned by death. All are very, very vulnerable.

The Tjakstad Drop-In Center is a place where these vulnerable children can get consistent hot meal, do laundry, access tutoring for school, be educated about HIV and AIDS through programs like YOLO and have access to testing and treatment services. Additionally, the Tjakstad Drop-In Center staff conduct home visits and provide home-based care.

Constance is doing everything she can for these kids. But she still worries. “You find little girls getting pregnant because when it’s Friday or Saturday, she’s going to the tavern where the boys are. They have no where to play and be kids.” The Department of Social Development provides support to the Tjakstad Drop-In Center, and other centers like it, throughout the country. However, the needs in the communities often exceed the resources that the government is able to provide.