Children Affected by HIV
Established in 2000, Dare to Care addresses the critical care needs of children abandoned due to HIV. Today, operating three homes in Kingston, Jamaica, the program provides a nurturing environment for these children to thrive.
We provide compassionate support for abandoned children affected by HIV.
In response to the need for long-term care and support for children affected by HIV, Mustard Seed Communities established Dare to Care in Zimbabwe. The program provides a safe, loving home where children receive individualized medical care, education, spiritual support, and opportunities to build meaningful relationships within their community.
At Dare to Care, each child is known and valued as a whole person. Through consistent care and a strong sense of belonging, children are supported in their health, development, education, and everyday lives.
Philosophy of Care: Setting HIV-Affected Children Up for Life Success
Dare to Care supports children and young people living with HIV in building healthy, full, and hopeful lives. Through consistent access to antiretroviral treatment, nutritious meals, education, a safe home, and loving relationships, residents receive the individualized care they need to support their health and well-being.
Dare to Care provides compassionate, trauma-informed support that attends to both physical and emotional healing. Counseling, life-skills education, vocational training, and academic opportunities help each young person develop their strengths, pursue their goals, and participate fully in their communities.
Children in Mustard Seed Communities’ Dare to Care program receive antiretroviral medication through support from the Global Fund, which helps provide HIV-related care in the Caribbean.
Care at Dare to Care extends beyond medication. The program works with the Ministry of Health, the National AIDS Committee, and the Child Development Agency to strengthen its approach to medical care and residents’ social and emotional well-being. Through these partnerships, Dare to Care provides coordinated, comprehensive support for each child.
People living with HIV may face stigma, discrimination, and social isolation. For children, these experiences can affect their sense of safety, belonging, and emotional well-being. Dare to Care works to challenge harmful misconceptions about HIV and create an environment where every child is treated with acceptance, respect, and dignity.
Education at Dare to Care includes both academic learning and support for each child’s social and emotional development. Through relationships with caregivers, volunteers, and visitors, children are surrounded by consistent care and encouraged to recognize their strengths, pursue their goals, and participate fully in their communities.
By affirming children living with HIV as valued individuals with their own abilities, hopes, and plans for the future, Dare to Care helps confront the stigma and exclusion they may experience.