Where We Work

ASAP works with rural Eastern Cape villages near the Lesotho border, from field-office based in Matatiele.
Most villages still have no indoor plumbing or ablutions, running water or surfaced roads. Many have no electricity or cell (mobile) phone network coverage. Here, access to basic healthcare and social services are extremely scant, due to the remote location, the limits of Government reach and the prohibitive cost of transport.
South Africa has the biggest HIV epidemic in the world and Eastern Cape province is one of the hardest hit areas, with almost a quarter of the nation’s HIV positive population. The social, economic and psychological devastation still causes enormous suffering and has only been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. A large portion of the productive population has died from HIV or migrated for economic opportunity and rural villages typically have high numbers of orphans.
Food insecurity, and therefore malnutrition, is rife. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, 1.9 out of three million children in the Eastern Cape were regularly going hungry and 79% of children are classified as multidimensionally poor – meaning poverty affects every aspect of their lives (StatsSA, 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic, high food prices, drought and economic decline all contribute to further deterioration of food security (Reliefweb, July 2021).
Between 2002 and 20016, livelihoods from agriculture and local employment in Eastern Cape declined from 60% to 23-32% (F Hadju, 2020).
Due to HIV deaths and economic migration, youth in rural villages have little access to role models, guidance and meaningful social engagement with adults. Poor education and lack of opportunities in the area contribute to delinquent and risky behaviours, further promoting poverty through the resulting early pregnancies and perpetuation of the HIV cycle. Many youths are not aware of opportunities for tertiary education and feel despondent about the future.
Amidst all of this, the toughest battle for survival is fought by the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), often living with ageing grandmothers or in child-headed households, without access to government services or support.
South Africa
- 8.23 million people living with HIV
- 19.5%adult HIV prevalence
- 24% adult female HIV prevalence
- Since 2002, the number of persons living with HIV
Sources: StatsSA 2020, 2021; IRR 2019
Eastern Cape
- 1.9 out of three million children regularly going hungry
- 79% of children classified as multidimensionally poor
- 23% of the nation’s HIV positive population
- Alfred Nzo District is South Africa’s poorest municipality
Sources: StatsSA 2020, 2021; IRR 2019
Newsletter Sign-Up
Keep in touch.