CINDI’s History.

Founded in July 1996, CINDI is a multi-sectoral network of civil society organisations and relevant stakeholders working with vulnerable children. CINDI mainly worked in in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) but in recent years have created a National and International footprint.

Since 2006, CINDI has been coordinating advocacy work amongst its members to address barriers to the accessing of children’s and caregiver’s rights. We are a non-political organisation that works with all vulnerable children and caregivers irrespective of class or creed.  

CINDI uses various models to achieve its goals:

• Cluster Model:  This is when Members are clustered together in groups that reflect common activities to enhance collaboration. The Cluster Model is an effective strategy for a Network as it accommodates the diverse nature of the membership and also encourages the spirit of working together not against each other.
• Joint Programme Model: Where CINDI is the lead managing agency for Members work together on donor funded programmes.
• District Working Groups: Community based networks that are created to operate independently and efficiently to resolve local child protection and social protection issues.
• Children Helping Children Model: Where CINDI works with children through schools to collect resources for learners Members work with.
• Singatha: CINDI raises funds to buy uniforms for children that Members work with.
• Gifts in Kind: Any donations of food, clothes, books, etc. that we receive are distributed to our Community Based Organisations.

How do we achieve this? Through implementing our four Programmes:

1. Networking: To ensure communication forums and networking opportunities exist at all levels for members around key Sector issues.
2. Capacity Building: To build relevant organisational and programme capacities of CINDI members.
3. Advocacy: To work with CINDI members to advocate for children’s rights at local and provincial level; to work in partnership with members in contributing to strategic policy development and practice at provincial and national level on an ongoing basis. CINDI would advance vulnerable children’s rights by:
   1. Providing tools and information to members.
   2. Facilitating and coordinating member response to key issues at local and district level.
   3. Representing the network and key issues affecting children at provincial and national level.
   4. Resource Mobilisation: To support CINDI members in accessing technical, material, and financial resources on an ongoing basis.