The number of South African children made especially vulnerable by HIV and AIDS is now 1.2 million and growing.

Vhutshilo (meaning "Life"), is a joint venture between CSPE and selected service providers. It seeks to help vulnerable children create sustainable community-based socio-educational support systems. The project has been field tested  and has developed a curriculum and training and technical assistance packages.

The Vhutshilo 1 curriculum also contains monitoring and evaluation protocols for peer-led, structured, time-limited groups for 10-13 year olds at drop-in centres. Vhutshilo 2 has also been developed and is aimed at 14-16 year olds.

Each activity provides fun, teaches coping skills, promotes safe expression of emotions and demonstrates children’s abilities to help and support one another.

Currently being implemented by 8 NGOs in 35 sites, Vhutshilo 1 and 2 will expand in 2010 to new partners and sites.

Funding is provided by USAID/PEPFAR.