Our Work in South Africa
ABOUT South Africa
South Africa (officially known as the Republic of South Africa) is the largest country in Southern Africa and is marked by wide diversity in its geography and in its people. With a great variety of cultures, languages and religions, South Africa has a rich history. Sadly, it is also one of the most unequal countries in the world where extreme opulence and severe poverty often exist side-by-side. Disease, unemployment, political unrest, and numerous other factors have led to a devastating orphan crisis.
How We’re Intervening For Orphans In South Africa
Our vision is to expand caregiver training in South Africa so that every social worker has the training and resources they need to better advocate for children. South Africa has the highest rate of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the world. Understanding the needs of children affected by FASD is especially crucial for caregivers, social workers, and policymakers. It’s AGCI’s goal to equip these individuals with the education and training they need to advocate for these children.
As we work to place more children with their forever families, we’re launching adoption trainings for government officials, social workers, and orphanage directors. As a result, more orphans with special needs will be eligible for adoption and will have the opportunity to be united with a family.
RECENT NEWS
We are so excited to share that our South Africa Adoption Program officially opened on November 1, 2018! We are accepting a limited number of families in 2018 for our pilot program.
Provide
Family-Like Care
We’re in the process of implementing our first Connected Care caregiver training in South Africa! This program is designed to elevate the standard of care for orphans by introducing TBRI principles in a hands-on, practical way for caregivers.
AGCI’s goal is for both caregivers and children to experience the evidence-based benefits of TBRI—which includes true healing for children, better connection between caregivers and children, and the ability to manage behaviors in a more loving and attachment-based way. Our hope is that this program can change lives for generations of children and families.
PLACE​
Finding Families For Orphans
Our new South Africa Adoption Program is now open! Limited openings are available in 2018 for our pilot program. All God’s Children International is one of three U.S. agencies accredited to provide adoption services for children in South Africa.
We work directly with the South African Central Authority (Department of Social Development) to place children in loving, safe, and permanent homes. South Africa is one of the first African countries to embrace the regulations of the Hague Convention and AGCI is one of the only agencies with 2 Hague accredited programs in Africa!
Policy
Together with our partners in South Africa, we’re working to influence child welfare policy at the highest levels of government. It’s our goal to begin to change the system and create a path to family and elevated care for all orphans.
AGCI hopes to unite NGOs and policymakers in the region to create a unified, strategic child advocacy plan.
Stories
How We’re Intervening For the 8 Million
There are currently 8 million orphans living in institutions around the world. For AGCI, the current state of the orphan crisis is alarming and unacceptable…
Why Our Sponsorship Program Is Different
AGCI’s Education Sponsorship program is truly life changing for the vulnerable children we serve. But what really makes our Colombia Education Sponsorship program so different?
The Dream Home Has Officially Launched!
24 young women entered their first real home after spending their lives in institutions…
Connected Care: AGCI’s Pilot Caregiver Training Program
We believe every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves to find true connection, healing, and love…
The Tkacik Family
We never dreamed that watching our three-year-old daughter take her first steps would bring such genuine pride and joy…
Adoption Isn’t Easy, But It Is Worth It
Cady shared with us what it was like to let go, trust God, and say yes to uncertainty!Â
PREPARE​
For 19-year-old Namousa, AGCI’s Independence program is so much more than the chance to further her education—it’s the chance to break the cycle of poverty and follow her dreams. Following the death of her mother, Namousa was brought to a South African orphanage at the age of 7. Dedicated, bright, and committed to a different life than that of her family, Namousa worked hard at school and through the help of AGCI’s Independence program, recently graduated college with a degree in social work. Without this support, Namousa would be back on the streets, with no resources or skills to help her get her start in life. Today, this amazing young woman is practicing social work with the goal of intervening for other orphans so that they too can have the support they need to follow their dreams.
