Who are we?

In 2004 it was estimated that 12 million children had already lost one or both parents due to HIV globally; and that by 2010 that number would increase to 18 million children.  In South Africa specifically it is estimated that 2.2 million children are orphans (12 % of children); by 2010 this number will increase to 3.1 million (18 % of children).

Heartbeat was founded by Dr. Sunette (Pienaar) Steyn in 2000 as a response to this massive orphan challenges in South Africa.

By December 2010, Heartbeat will have reached over to 54,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) through direct and indirect interventions.  These include child-headed households, granny-headed households and potential orphans living with terminally ill parents.

Heartbeat exists to empower these OVC to reach their full potential, through quality service provision, development and capacity building. According to the Heartbeat criteria, a child is considered orphaned ONLY: if the mother is dead and the father not present; OR if the father is dead and the mother not present; OR both parents are dead or not present. Heartbeat defines a child as 18 years and younger or still attending school.

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Guiding Principles

Heartbeat believes that the family system is the most basic form of support that a child needs. Heartbeat, therefore, tries to keep siblings together and ensure that they become the legal owners of their late parent(s)’ house and then mobilises circles of support around the children where they are.  Heartbeat’s work is based on 4 guiding principles, namely:

1. Children’s Rights
2. Community Participation
3. Sustainable Development
4. Partnerships

 Heartbeat’s goals as an organisation are:

• Increased provision and protection of the rights of OVC; and
• Increased community capacity to care for, and protect, the rights of OVC.

Heartbeat’s specific objectives are:

• To provide for the psychosocial rights of OVC;
• To provide for the intellectual rights of OVC;
• To ensure access to or to directly provide for the physical rights of OVC as described in the SA Constitution;
• To develop a culture of support for OVC within communities;
• To ensure quality project management and maximum service impact; and
• To improve the quality of life of OVC.

The programmes that Heartbeat implements seek to contribute to the positive transformation of the child as a whole. These programmes are sustainable, focused and consist of different products and services. The programmes are delivered through project sites (called After School Centres).  These programmes include:

• Material Provision
• Education
• Children’s Empowerment
• Rights and Access to basic services
• Capacity Building

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Heartbeat's Values are PRICE-less
Professionalism
Respect
Integrity
Confidentiality
Equality

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Annual Reports