The Kuwangisana Organization's programs were developed and continued to be designed in response to the needs of the community. Kuwangisana has a proven track record of sustainable success in delivering high quality services by employing a holistic method of culturally appropriate programming with a personal, spiritual and community approach. Kuwangisana will continue to empower local communities and increase their participation in the right to education, health services and human rights.

 Developing local capacity has been fundamental to this project. Strengthening staff capacity in all aspects is a focus for the project to achieve maximum potential, continue growth and sustainability of program activities. Quality training of all staff, systems strengthening and policy and protocol adherence has raised both the standard and quality of services that Kuwangisana is increasingly becoming known for regionally and nationally.

​

 Background

​

The Kapasseni Society, founded by returning refugees Perpetua and Joseph Alfazema is the root from which the Kuwangisana  project has sprouted and blossomed. Following the Civil War in Mozambique from 1977 to 1992, the Alfazemas were asked by the Kapasseni Chief to help with the development of a school, health center, and clean water supply. Kuwangisana became a branch of the Kapasseni Society devoted to the holistic care of those affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. 

 In 2006 the project started by helping 20 clients and had a small budget and staff. For 3 years the project grew and began helping orphans as well as people with AIDS. The project has engaged the community, reduce stigma and strengthened a community based care response to mitigate the impacts of HIV and AIDS. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant funding in 2009 allowed Kuwangisana to broaden and deepen its core objectives of  preventing new infections, supplying quality HBC (home-based care) services for People Living with HIV/AIDS and providing a community based orphan support program for children made vulnerable by AIDS in rural and remote communities of Caia and Chemba districts. The project operated from four sites: Sena, Chemba, Caia and Kapasseni village, with the project headquarters based in Sena.

 Kuwangisana began to scale up successful home based care services, provided support to orphans and started prevention efforts in rural and remote underserved areas of Caia District. Clients went from being bedridden, to getting treatment and returning to productive lives and being able to care for their children. People went  off the support services once they were stabilized and new clients were enrolled. The program has made a huge difference in people?s lives and brought hope where there was none.

 Next steps were to provide life saving care and treatment and to avert new infections among women of reproductive age and their children by increasing comprehensive services for HIV-positive pregnant women and their infants and increasing sexual and reproductive health services to HIV-positive women and their partners.

Orphan education programs were expanded to other rural areas that were under served.