The future of the young people in Sub-Saharan Africa is bleak. Many poverty-stricken youth leave their rural homes, hoping to find work in the more industrialized urban centers. Their hopes for a better life soon fade when they find that the only places they can afford to live are in areas with no basic services, such as water and sewage. These conditions lead to further suffering from many sicknesses.

Employment is very hard to find, so many turn to a life of thieving or prostitution, leaving them open to unwanted pregnancies, AIDS, as well as the emotional wounds that follow these lifestyles. This cycle leads to more and more street children and orphans. And there is almost no chance of returning home because relatives are already overburdened and cannot take them back in. With no education or job skills, desperation keeps them in this cycle of prostitution and poverty.

WHAT IS A CAREPOINT?
A CarePoint is a what its name implies: a point of care. It can be set up with as little investment as a tent and some pots and bowls. But in its most effective state, it is a central point for carrying out the programs that Children’s Cup has proven that make a difference in a child’s life forever.

A CarePoint can be looked at as a school, a doctor’s office, a cafeteria, or a meeting place. No matter what program is going on at a CarePoint, it is most definitely a safe haven for the thousands of orphans and vulnerable children that are in such desperate need of hope.

OUR APPROACH
It takes a comprehensive approach to the orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) issue and requires treating the whole child. A CarePoint becomes a central point for providing the multiple services necessary. Physical needs are met by providing a meal and vitamins daily. Immunizations and voluntary HIV/AIDS testing are offered. Volunteers teach HIV/AIDS education. Children’s Cup invests in these children mentally by making preschool, basic literacy programs and job training available. Social support is important, teaching life skills through a youth outreach program. Kids’ Clubs on Saturdays give extra support and moral education. Extra care and attention is given to orphan-headed households.

Keys to our Approach: Empowerment and Collaboration
Children’s Cup also believes in these 2 important keys to our approach. Unless we empower and enable people to have the desire, skills and opportunity to rise out of poverty, we only allow the problems to perpetuate. And a relief and development project always works best when you collaborate and the people being helped have a sense of being part of the answer. It helps the community and individuals to regard the problem as theirs to solve, and progress brings great pride and sense of worth to the people.

FEEDING
Feeding is the first program Children’s Cup establishes at a CarePoint. Life-saving food, along with daily vitamins is a necessity. For the majority of the children that come to a CarePoint, the meal they receive will be their only meal for that day.

EDUCATION
In most of the countries we work in, there is no public school system. All children attending government schools must pay tuition. Finding money for food is almost impossible, leaving little chance of finding money for school. At a Children’s Cup CarePoint, children are given the opportunity to receive basic education.
MEDICAL
With no parents and no money, sicknesses that would normally be minor, such as a cold, can become life-threatening. And for a child whose immune system is already weakened by HIV/AIDS, that risk is even greater.

Children’s Cup is able to administer basic medical care at a CarePoint. We are also able to make people aware of the availability of antiretroviral drugs that greatly improve their quality of life.

PSYCHOSOCIAL
The emotional needs of children that live a life surrounded by death are immense. Research has shown that children living in this culture of death suffer from hysteria, insomnia, nervousness and a general emotional imbalance marked by anxiety, depression and grief. And due to this psychological vulnerability and economic desperation, parentless children are prone to sexual abuse and exploitation, hard labor, prostitution or pornography in order to survive.

Children’s Cup is able to train volunteers to deal with these issues and set up programs that keep children in a loving environment, surrounded by caring people who see their lives as precious.

Possibly one of the most important aspects to the development of CarePoints is the launching of church meetings inside the CarePoint facilities. The affect on communities where churches are birthed from CarePoints is sure to be eternally significant. The children and adults in these communities hunger for hope and truth, and the combination of a CarePoint and church will give us maximum opportunity to give them that Hope - His name is Jesus.

CAREPOINT STRATEGIES
CarePoint Strategy #1: Bridge the Gap Between Church and Communities
Children’s Cup has seen the necessity of mobilizing the local church to become the extended family to these children. It is also in the best interest of the government to solve the issues that flow from these impoverished areas. ‘Cup is working to build bridges between the church, community, government and other organizations to bring relief and hope to these children. Our efforts come together at a “Children’s Cup CarePoint.”

CarePoint Strategy #2: Establish a Strong Infrastructure
Areas where local community members have started to address the OVC problem are targeted. A structure is built that is used for delivery of services from multiple orgranizations. Children’s Cup contributes funding, the community contributes labor and local businesses provide contributions for fence, electricity and plumbing. This collaboration continues as Local Action Committes are formed that include ‘Cup staff and preferred members from area businesses, community leaders and pastors. This committee plays an active role in Care Point projects.

CarePoint Strategy #3: Empower the People of the Community
As we use this 3-pronged approach, we make sure that we are empowering and/or collaborating with each step. Daily meals and vitamins are provided by Children’s Cup. Volunteers from the community provide labor and firewood. Local businesses also provide a portion of the food and Children’s Cup provides transportation and warehousing. People of the community are empowered to make a difference as they are trained to educate the children. They don’t rely on ‘Cup staff to be the primary educators. A Big Brother/Big Sister program encourages youth to become role models to younger orphans and vulnerable children.

CarePoint Strategy #4: Keep Focused on our Vision and Goals
The suceess of the CarePoints has been overwhelming. We are seeing so many lives changed. To keep this cycle of hope going, we realize the importance of an ongoing plan. We evaluate the mechanics of each site continually and are always looking for ways to improve and finding more opportunities to make a difference. Sadly, those opportunities are endless. We currently have 11 CarePoints, and we plan to strengthen operations and add new facilities as resources become available.