The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), a church that is present in five southern African countries, founded in 1967, has a strong established partnership with Global Ministries. There are 272 congregations with 235,900 members in the South Africa Synod of the UCCSA.

South Africa is a ten-year old democracy that faces major obstacles to be financially stable after many years of apartheid. The national economic growth has not been strong enough to lower South Africa's high unemployment rate, now at 37 percent. The country has not been able to successfully address the overwhelming poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. Women and children are greatly affected.

In addition, the devastating growth of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has further caused South Africa to fall even deeper into crisis. This greatly impacts the quality of ministry the UCCSA churches can provide to the people in their communities. The effort to restore, renew, and revitalize South Africa will require creative ideas, economic alternatives, and program development. The church is being called to respond to the needs of the South African people in new ways.

The Eastside HIV and AIDS Program, founded in 2002 by Eastwood United Church in the KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa strives to address these needs through a feeding project, home-based care, an orphan committee, recreation program, a daycare, and sewing and gardening efforts. With its very large professional Muslim support base, the Program is the first inter-faith humanitarian partnership of its kind in the province, and carries out its service to the population of between 35,000 and 45,000 with the help of over 40 volunteers. The people served by the Program live in extraordinarily poor conditions, and most are unemployed.

Through the feeding project, food is provided to sick, unemployed, and elderly community members as well as families. Food is transported to the bedridden and sick who cannot pick up their own supplies. Volunteers trained by the Department of

Health also provide basic needs to those with HIV and AIDS within the patients' home environments. A local clinic oversees this work.

Children who have been orphaned by AIDS are registered and placed in a program with the assistance of other community social service organizations. Through a weekly sports program, the children are involved in a positive and supportive environment which keeps them occupied in constructive activities and not at loose ends after school and on holidays.

Other community members are taught sewing and gardening job skills. The items created and produced through this project are sold to generate a source of income for the participants, encouraging self-sufficiency and personal dignity.

The Eastside HIV and AIDS Strategy program has been very successful and is in the process of expanding its services. Funding is needed to allow for the purchase of sewing machines and fabric for the sewing program. Money is also needed to help with the development of land for sports fields and recreation programs, as well as for the feeding program which will soon be offered on a daily basis due to increased need within the community.