Heartbeat believes in the holistic development of children.  Heartbeat has four programmes that impact the lives of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children:

Heartbeat’s Children’s Empowerment Programme aims to ensure that children’s emotional well-being is taken care of.  In order for this to happen, Heartbeat’s Child Care Workers visit the children at their homes to ensure an adult presence, assist with house chores, home-work and the well-being of the child.
The Social Workers will do activities to support the children; these activities include individual counseling, support groups, youth camps, workshops and puppet shows.  The Community Development Facilitator and the Social Workers will work closely with other service providers to assist with foster care placements.

A range of workshops are held for the children. The workshops focus on child abuse, HIV and AIDS, gender equality and teenage pregnancy.   Heartbeat believes that child participation will ensure the success of these workshops.  In 2009, Heartbeat identified 24 Youth Ambassadors from all communities to represent the children of that community.

Education programme 

Heartbeat strives to support children through various activities to ensure that children can excel academically.  This starts with Early Childhood Development for the children younger than 6 years of age.   Heartbeat has partnered with a NGO, ECD Projects, in this regard.

Heartbeat accommodates children at the After School Centre (ASC) and supports them with home work assistance.  All children will receive school uniforms and stationery. Heartbeat’s project staff will lobby on behalf of the children for the exemption of school fees.

Heartbeat’s Post-Secondary Programme allows youth that have completed their secondary schooling to study or to be part of a Skills Development Programme.  2009 period saw 50 youths placed.

Access to rights:
This programme ensures that children are supported with all their basic rights as enshrined in the constitution. The programme focuses on the issues of acquiring birth certificates and ID’s, lobbying for school fee exemption, electricity and water, ensuring access to basic health care and advocacy in general for their rights.

Material Support
Heartbeat provides for the material needs of its Orphans and Vulnerable Children.  Food Parcels and Food Gardens ensure food security; clothing, blankets and toiletries are also provided to the children.
The Exxaro Food Garden Project is focused on addressing Heartbeat’s objective to ensure access to, or directly provide for, the physical rights of OVC as described in the SA Constitution. Heartbeat supplies 5 projects (Atteridgeville, Nellmapius, Tembisa, Vosloorus, and Katlehong) with fresh produce from the Exxaro Food Gardens. 868 Children (Male = 438 and Female = 430) benefit from the fresh vegetables twice a month. 6 Crèches in Katlehong receive vegetables twice a month. The following herbs and vegetables have been planted: parsley, celery, red and green cabbage, carrots, beetroot, spinach, radishes, lettuce and cauliflower.