South Africa trains its unemployed as caregivers for vulnerable children

South Africa has trained more than 6,700 unemployed citizens as Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs) to support the country's 3.5 million orphans and 12.7 million vulnerable children at risk due to poverty, disability, violence and the impact of HIV/AIDS. The Isibindi model of care sends trained carers into households to help children and adolescents cope with the trauma of death, and teach them the skills to manage their households in the absence of parents. Young people helped by Isibindi carers exhibit higher levels of self-esteem, improved problem-solving abilities, and a lower risk of HIV infection.