Covenant to Care

The Bethany Children's Trust: Covenant to Care

Welcome to our Covenant to Care web page. Thank you for taking an interest in how you can play a part in supporting people affected by HIV and AIDS.

Covenant to Care is a programme, set up by the Christian HIV/AIDS Alliance (CHAA), to enable churches in the UK link up with Christian organisations working with AIDS-related issues.
The Bethany Children's Trust (BCT) is a member of CHAA and is committed to the Covenant to Care Partners' Pledge:
‘We pledge to follow the Biblical principles of caring for body, mind and spirit that is accountable and offers the hope of the Gospel to those who are affected by the AIDS pandemic, regardless of creed, colour, gender or sexual orientation.'

The Bethany Children's Trust is committed to the long-term care of children affected by HIV and AIDS. Through our Covenant to Care projects, you and your church can build a supportive relationship with people who, in the name of Christ, are caring for children affected by HIV and AIDS.

BCT works with the following church-based project partners, who are building a better life for children affected by HIV and AIDS:

Abisunzimana, Rwanda:
Birthed in 2002 as a partnership between the local Episcopalian Church, the Health Authority and local people living with HIV and AIDS, this project now runs support groups and offers care for around 100 adults and 150 children.
Through the Stop AIDS Club, children use drama and dance to present HIV awareness and prevention messages to local communities.
After seeing the impact of Abisunzimana, churches in 5 other parishes requested their assistance in establishing similar works, thus reaching hundreds more children.  Read more

EPED, Democratic Republic of Congo:
Established in 1999, and now benefiting from the involvement of 35 local churches, EPED's aim is to bring security and stability to children at risk in DRC's capital, Kinshasa. Included in this group are those living with or orphaned by HIV and AIDS.
Volunteers make regular home visits to children, bringing material assistance as well as advice and friendship for their parents or carers. Read more

Vinodi, Togo:
Vinodi, initiated by a local Togolese church in 1999, brings transformation to hundreds of children in and around the small rural town of Tsevie, who are at risk as a result of extreme poverty and HIV disease.
Home-based care programmes, lunch clubs and holiday clubs are run by Christian volunteers. These provide practical help such as healthcare and nutrition, as well as emotional support and opportunities for play and friendships. Children who have been orphaned because of AIDS, or who are ill themselves, are cared for in a loving and appropriate way. Read more

 Your Involvement:

The Bethany Children's Trust supports the HIV and AIDS related work of Abisunzimana, EPED and Vinodi with funding towards medicines, nutritional support, school costs, children's clubs and income-generating initiatives. We also provide training and advice for the project teams, to strengthen the ongoing effectiveness and impact of the projects.
To find out how your church could establish a supporting relationship with one of these projects, please contact Susie Howe, BCT's Covenant to Care co-ordinator. You are more than welcome to contact us for an informal chat, with no obligation of further commitment. Contact Susie

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