Friends In Ireland

Friends In Ireland is located in Kokstad, South Africa on 107 Hope St. Friends In Ireland is rated 3 out of 5 in the category non-governmental organization in South Africa. Friends In Ireland is an intimate, professional child-centred organisation with a mission to provide and promote care, protection and opportunities for orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa in partnership with local communities. The vision of Friends In Ireland is of empowered communities in which children and young people are able to grow up without discrimination, and in a healthy, safe and caring environment, where they are equipped with the necessary skills to realise their aspirations and potential. Friends In Ireland was founded by Marian Finucane and John Clarke following a visit to South Africa in June 2002. During this visit, they witnessed the dire circumstances in which orphaned and vulnerable children who had been infected with HIV/AIDS were living. Friends In Ireland was initially requested to build a hospice in Khayelitsha in Cape Town by Mèdicins South African Frontièrs, where mothers dying of HIV and AIDS could receive care. Friends In Ireland’s focus moved to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, following encouragement from Mèdecins South African Frontièrs,in 2006. This coincided with a request from the Bishop of the Diocese of Kokstad, Bishop William Slattery (originally from Ireland), who contacted Friends In Ireland to request their support in the Diocese of Kokstad, which stretches from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape northwards to the border with Lesotho. Since 2006, Friends In Ireland has been in a constant phase of growth and development, focusing on perfecting its model of intervention to support orphans and vulnerable children in rural areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.