Where we work
Christian Atsu Education Centre, Senya Beraku, Ghana
The newly inaugurated school features a nine‑unit classroom block complete with a Computer Lab, Library, Sickbay, and administrative offices. Its serene environment and modern facilities have already attracted strong interest from local parents, positioning the school as a rising centre of educational excellence.
Since opening in June 2023, The Christian Atsu Education Centre has pursued a clear mission of academic growth. Enrichment activities such as reading clubs and spelling bees have been introduced to support holistic learning.
Enrolment has grown steadily, from the first group of twenty‑four orphanage children in January 2023 to a current total of eighty‑six students. Today, the school welcomes both home children and learners from the wider community, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity.
The opening of The Christian Atsu Education Centre stands as a powerful symbol of hope, perseverance, and the transformative impact of education. As it continues to thrive, the school honours the enduring legacy of Christian Atsu and the collective dedication of all who helped bring this vision to life.
Jaipur, India –Faith Aalingan – Jaipur, India
India is home to the largest number of AIDS orphans, many of whom face deep stigma and barriers within society. In response, visionary founder Smriti Singh created Faith as a safe, nurturing home for HIV‑positive or HIV‑affected children who had nowhere else to go. As other care homes in Jaipur refused to accept HIV‑positive orphans, the number of children seeking refuge with Smriti grew quickly. Today, 55 boys and girls call Faith their home.
Smriti has devoted her life to giving these children the loving, normal childhood they deserve. Under her care, they are thriving in ways once thought impossible. Aged between 5 and 18, all the children attend regular schools and colleges, where they are excelling academically. Smriti also maintains strong ties with any existing families, relatives, or guardians, supporting reintegration whenever it becomes safe and appropriate.
Faith provides each child with a stable home, respect, medical oversight, education, and the confidence to pursue their dreams. It is a place where they are truly seen, valued, and loved.
We hope you will join us in helping these children continue to build bright, hopeful futures.
Becky Foundation, Senya-Beraku, Ghana
Former schoolteacher Seth Asiedu founded Becky’s Home in Senya Beraku, Ghana, after witnessing more and more of his students missing school due to neglect, abuse, and the growing threat of child trafficking. Determined to break the cycle of poverty driving these issues, he set out to give vulnerable children safety, stability, and access to education through high‑school age.
Seth began with a simple after‑school club, offering local children support, clothing, school supplies, and medical care. As the need grew, so did his mission. What started in a small rented two‑bedroom house evolved into Becky’s Home, a dedicated refuge providing shelter, protection, and education for orphaned and abandoned children. Today, the home cares for more than 50 boys and girls, aged 4 to 14, and has expanded to include a school and a day‑care centre for preschool children.
Becky’s Home and its school strive to create a safe, nurturing, child‑friendly environment where every child can grow, learn, and reach their full potential—regardless of background, gender, religion, or ethnicity. With opportunity, support, and love woven into daily life, these children are empowered to imagine and pursue brighter futures.
Uzima, Ezimbuzini Informal Settlement, Soweto, South Africa
The Ezimbuzini Informal Settlement, located in Orlando East near the iconic Orlando Stadium, sits within an industrial area once central to black business development. Known as “Ezimbuzini” after the bustling weekend goat market that once defined it, the community remains vibrant but deeply affected by poverty and health challenges. Uzima’s presence here offers hope, working to build a healthier, more empowered future for residents.
At the heart of Uzima is Carol Dyanti, affectionately known as Mum Carol to thousands of young Sowetans. Moved by the growing number of children orphaned by AIDS, she left her successful hotel‑management career to care for those forced to head households after losing their parents. A respected figure across Johannesburg and a lifelong fighter against apartheid injustices, Carol continues to lead with extraordinary strength—but she cannot do it alone.
With 3.7 million orphans in South Africa and around 150,000 living in child‑headed households, Uzima provides essential support through health‑education workshops, HIV‑prevention campaigns, psychosocial counselling, early‑childhood support, women’s empowerment programmes, and community‑wide HIV/AIDS awareness. Their work aims to create people‑centred, rights‑based services that reduce stigma and uplift vulnerable families.
Operation Bobbi Bear, Durban, South Africa
Bobbi Bear is a community‑driven response to the complex issues that violate children’s rights and strip them of dignity. More than 24 years ago, visionary founder Jackie Branfield created Operation Bobbi Bear to protect and advocate for sexually abused children in KwaZulu‑Natal, South Africa. Her innovative use of a coloured teddy bear allows children to draw their experiences when words fail, reducing trauma and providing clear, non‑threatening communication across language barriers. This simple tool has transformed how evidence is gathered and ensures children receive the justice and care they deserve.
Through school outreach programmes, Bobbi Bear reaches around 4,000 children every month, offering education, protection, and early intervention. Weekly community meetings under the Illovo tree provide women and mothers with essential support, resources, and a safe space for counselling.
Bobbi Bear’s intuitive, compassionate model has brought relief to countless children, and its impact is one we believe should be replicated worldwide. Child sexual abuse remains a largely unspoken issue, despite its widespread reality. Bringing it into the open is essential to helping children survive and heal.
Will you stand with us in protecting and empowering these vulnerable young lives?
Crime Check Foundation, Accra, Ghana
Crime Check Foundation (CCF) works to build a just and compassionate society in Accra, Ghana, by addressing systemic injustices and improving the lives of marginalized individuals. Their mission centres on promoting human rights, reducing recidivism, and advocating for meaningful prison reform. Through groundbreaking initiatives and strong media presence on Crime Check TV Ghana, Facebook, and YouTube, CCF has raised national awareness about injustices within the legal system while driving real, measurable change.
CCF provides legal support for individuals unjustly imprisoned or unable to afford representation, ensuring their rights are protected. They champion prisoners’ rights, support underprivileged groups, and run rehabilitation programmes that equip inmates with practical skills for reintegration. Public education campaigns highlight the challenges faced by prisoners and ex‑offenders, fostering empathy and understanding across communities. Their work is grounded in the belief that every person deserves dignity, respect, and the opportunity to rebuild their life.
In partnership with Vocational Impact, CCF also offers criminology placements that provide hands‑on experience within the justice system, empowering participants to contribute to rehabilitation and reform efforts.
Together, these initiatives strive to create a fairer society where justice prevails and every individual has the chance to thrive.
Lesidi Girls Programme, Soweto, South Africa
The programme provides a holistic range of services designed to support adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) facing heightened risks of HIV, violence, and social vulnerability. Primary services include HIV testing, screening, and counselling delivered through partnerships with local organisations. Secondary services focus on community‑based HIV and violence‑prevention initiatives, offering group interventions and empowerment sessions that build knowledge, resilience, and confidence. Education subsidies help girls remain in school, strengthening long‑term opportunities.
Economic‑empowerment activities provide practical skills such as CV writing, job‑search training, and leadership development, helping young women build pathways to independence. Survivors of gender‑based violence receive post‑violence care, including access to pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through USAID‑supported partnerships. The programme also works to improve access to youth‑friendly sexual and reproductive health services, ensuring girls receive accurate information and compassionate support.
Parental‑care initiatives promote positive parenting practices, strengthening family environments and reducing risk factors at home. Together, these interventions address the interconnected challenges AGYW face, aiming to break cycles of vulnerability and empower them to lead safer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.
Nkosi’s Haven, Johannesburg, South Africa
For the past 18 years, visionary Gail Johnson has led Nkosi’s Haven, a home for HIV‑positive mothers and children named in honour of Nkosi Johnson, the brave young activist who fought for the rights of HIV‑positive children before his passing in 2001. Nkosi dreamed of a place where mothers and their children living with HIV could be cared for without discrimination, and Gail has dedicated her life to bringing that vision to reality.
Nkosi’s Haven now supports up to 150 HIV‑positive orphans, mothers, and children, providing a safe, nurturing environment where every child attends school, receives proper nutrition, and adheres to essential medication. With Gail at the centre of this close‑knit family, and a team of trained staff, the children receive emotional, psychological, and educational support that allows them to thrive.
Determined to create a model of holistic care for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, Gail has worked tirelessly to expand the home and empower mothers to live with HIV, not die from it.
Previously Supported Sites
Ikageng Itireling, Soweto, South Africa
Visionary Carol Dyanti, known as Mum Carol to thousands of young Sowetans, was moved to action by the growing number of children orphaned by AIDS. Though she had a successful career as a hotel manager, she could not stand by while children—many heading households after their parents’ deaths—struggled alone. She rallied her community, gathered supporters, and ultimately founded Ikageng Ministries to provide structured care for the rising number of vulnerable children. Arms Around the Child’s founder, Leigh Blake, first met Carol in 2007 and became her earliest financial supporter.
Carol understood the immense risks faced by children caring for younger siblings. Ikageng became a lifeline, offering food, education, school uniforms, mental‑health support, and life‑skills training, easing the fear of family separation. Over the years, Ikageng has supported thousands of orphaned and vulnerable children across Soweto, with many households caring for up to six children who have witnessed the full devastation of AIDS.
Ikageng is a safe space where children feel protected, women regain their sense of worth, and young people learn their value within the community. Carol remains a legendary figure—an apartheid warrior and a force of strength—but she needs our support. With 3.7 million orphans in South Africa and 150,000 living in child‑headed households, the need grows every day.
Carmel Jyoti, Manipur, India
Manipur has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in India, leaving many children facing poverty, discrimination, and deep social stigma. Government‑run homes exist, but the number of orphans and destitute children—especially those affected by conflict and HIV—far exceeds available support. HIV‑positive children are often the most neglected. Carmel Jyoti was created to offer these children holistic residential care up to age 18, helping them build the strength and stability needed to reintegrate into the community.
The organisation provides comprehensive care, including protection, nutrition, medical support, and treatment for children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Education is a core priority: children are gradually integrated into local schools while receiving support in a safe, nurturing environment. Community awareness is equally vital, as reducing stigma and building local support networks are essential to long‑term change.
Arms Around the Child partners with Carmel Jyoti to help them achieve their mission and give these children the best possible chance at a healthy, hopeful future. Together, they work to ensure that every child—regardless of illness or circumstance—receives dignity, opportunity, and the care they deserve.
Vatsalya Care Home, Jalore, India
Vatsalya Care Home in Jalore, Rajasthan, has been developed over the past decade by visionary Jagdish Kumar, providing a safe and nurturing environment for 15–30 HIV‑positive orphans. Many of these children have lost their parents to AIDS and have no extended family willing or able to care for them. Through dedication and compassion, the home offers stability, healthcare, education, and emotional support, giving vulnerable children the chance to rebuild their lives.
Jagdish and his colleague Naren work closely with any remaining relatives or potential guardians to strengthen family bonds and, where possible, reintegrate children into their communities. Some children return home during school holidays while staying at Vatsalya during term time, as their families often cannot afford school fees or consistent care. This flexible approach ensures each child receives both family connection and essential support.
Despite their painful pasts—stories marked by abandonment, fear, and loss—the children at Vatsalya laugh, play, and grow with the joy all children deserve. The mission is simple yet profound: to ensure every child has the chance at a brighter, more hopeful future.
Isn’t that exactly what they deserve.
Sahara AAlhad – Pune, India
Sahara Aalhad is a 28‑year‑old organisation dedicated to empowering people affected by substance use and HIV/AIDS. With 36 community‑driven projects, Sahara strengthens individuals and communities through prevention, treatment, and reintegration support. Uniquely, the organisation is run largely by former substance users and people living with HIV, creating a powerful model of empathy, credibility, and lived experience. Their services reach men, women, children, and the transgender community, offering care that is inclusive and deeply human.
Sahara focuses on rebuilding lives by encouraging positive living, expanding livelihood opportunities, and helping marginalised people reintegrate into society. They provide comprehensive support for those dependent on substances, people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, children impacted by the epidemic, and individuals from sexual‑minority groups. Their guiding principle is simple: not just to go the extra mile, but to walk it alongside those they serve.
Nationally and internationally recognised for their dedication and resilience, Sahara’s team consistently delivers high‑quality work even in the most challenging circumstances. At the heart of their mission is acceptance. In a country where stigma and discrimination remain widespread, Sahara offers safety, dignity, and community—while working to raise awareness and replace fear with understanding.
RNP+ Aanchal Care Home – Jaipur, India
RNP+ provided children at this home with access to education, nutrition and medical care. Many of these children had lost their parents to AIDS and are without family members willing or capable to care for them. In addition to creating a home for these most vulnerable children, RNP+ worked to strengthen the capacities of the remaining family members, so that children could return and live with their own extended families. Some of the children from this home have now returned to their families and together many of the children have moved to our specialised care home Faith in Jaipur.