About Us

U-SA Cares For Life is a non-profit organization supporting SA Cares for Life, in South Africa. We address the needs of families in crises in South Africa, with specific emphasis on women, babies, young children and At-Risk teens affected by HIV/AIDS.

Did You Know?

In 2016 an estimated seven million South Africans were living with HIV/AIDS. In 2016 90 % of deaths, are due to HIV. The population who is most at risk of HIV is black South African woman between 20 and 34, who are in their re-productive ages. This means more babies to be born who are infected, and more mothers dying, leaving those babies uncared for.
Although the history of the HIV response in South Africa has been seriously impeded by leaders who doubted the science behind AIDS and ARVs, in the last few years the country has become home to the world’s biggest program of HIV treatment.

Why are so many people in SA infected with HIV

First, there are historical reasons, and political factors, but the new social norms, such as young girls having sex with men much older than them, plays a big role. Children left without proper adult care are more likely to be abused and exploited.
Orphans slip further into poverty once the family’s main breadwinner stops working or dies. Losing a parent or caregiver, often means losing access to social grants, education, and healthcare.
Even so, more than 1,700 people die each day from HIV/AIDS related illnesses, leaving orphaned children on the streets, in child-headed households, or being raised by grandparents. An estimated 2.3 million children in South Africa have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
In total we have 3.7 million orphans in South Africa, and many more children living with sick and bedridden caregivers.
About 150,000 children are believed to be living in child-headed households.
The community is the best place for children to grow up; but the increasing burden of HIV and AIDS means that communities need support to look after their orphans and vulnerable children. Community-level responses vary greatly in resources, skills and responses. SA Cares for Life’s community based module reaches into the communities and is based on a holistic approach to the needs of children and youth affected by HIV/AIDS. Children should grow up in a safe family environment, whether their own, or those provided by foster or adoptive parents. U-SA Cares for Life supports SA Cares in sustaining prevention and intervention programs to keep children in positive family situations.