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AIDS - “Whenever I look into the
eyes of someone dying of AIDS, I have an eerie awareness that Jesus
is staring back at me.” Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
• Youth campaign for self control and abstinence
• Funds raised for AIDS outreach
• AIDS candle lighting service held
• Haven gets childrens' wing
• Avec l'amour
Youth campaign for self control and abstinence
Youth speakers at an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign held at St
Matthew’s Church in KwaMagxaki called for young people to have
self control and to abstain from premarital sex, reports Linda Ncaca.
The conference, held on Youth Day, 16 June, was well attended by
young people from different parishes and the community. The theme of
the conference was “Youth as Champions and Stewards on HIV/AIDS”.
 Picture:
Time to praise - Tobeka Tandi, Dumisani Ntuli, Tembisa Marele and
Lungiswa Makelima take a break for praise during the HIV/AIDS
awareness campaign at St Matthew's.
St Matthew’s youth leader, Mmeli Kanise, gave a powerful
presentation on “Self Control” which he said goes with the
responsibility of looking after oneself. He called for a sense of
self-discipline, a healthy life style, self development and
developing self esteem. He said the struggle for freedom continues
today, not from apartheid but from the disastrous virus.
In her talk on ‘Prevention of Transmission’, Tembisa Marele
from Ithembe community-based organisation, reminded the young people
that the body is the ‘Temple of God’, and said that
abstinence from premarital sex is the best method of preventing the
HIV virus from being transmitted.
Dumisani Ntuli spoke on ‘Knowing your status’ and briefly
touched on the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system
stressing the importance of taking care of this part of the body. He
explained how the Voluntary Counselling and Testing worked and urged
young people who are sexually active to go for testing. Tobeka Tanda,
an HIV/AIDS counsellor who was trained at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University, was present with facilities for counselling and testing.
Many of the participants took the opportunity of being tested so that
they could be sure of their HIV status.
A young PLA (People Living with AIDS) spoke on the import-ance of
support groups and during group time the stigma of AIDS was discussed
- how it affected one within the church, the community and at work.
At midday a candle was lit to commemorate Nkosi Johnson who, as one
of the youngest AIDS activists, was recognised as the hero of the day.
Funds raised for AIDS outreach
In the Mood - Members of the audience at the concert held at Holy
Spirit Church in KwaZakhele get into the mood of things.
Jingles Community Based Organisation held a fund raising concert on
27 May to raise funds for their AIDS outreach work. Jingles is one of
the groups that were trained and monitored by Barnabas Trust.
AIDS candle lighting service held
As part of the Diocesan AIDS Committee's plan of action this year,
a service was held on Sunday 15 June at St Michael and All Angels,
reports Linda Ncaca.
The theme for the year is “Remember in Action” and the
candles for the service were provided by the CPSA AIDS Ministry
office. Bishop Bethlehem lit the main candle commemorating all those
who have died of AIDS-related diseases and represent-atives from
various parishes also lit candles of remembrance.
The keynote speaker of the day was Hospice Chaplain, Diana Nkesiga,
who spoke on grieving. She began by tracing the virus from the point
of entry until it destroys the body, and the effect it has in
destroying the community too.
Haven gets childrens' wing
A wing which will accommodate 16 more children has almost been
completed at the House of Resurrection Haven, reported Nobantu
Makunga during her chairman’s report at the AGM held on 21 June.
Nobantu said that at last year’s AGM this project was envisaged
as a long term project. It has cost approximately R270 000 of which
R250 000 was donated for the purpose by Caring Truckers AIDS Drive at Firestone/Bridgestone.
 Picture:
More room for more patients - The wing added to the Haven to
accommodate more children.
In his report the Financial Administrator, Clint Morris, said that
the kitchen and dining room are being refitted to utilise the
existing space more effectively in order to accommodate the extra
patients. More staff are also being employed, including a Senior
Sister who will provide the professional backup needed when the
matron, Maggie Williams, is not on site, and after hours. He said
they were able to do this because, “With ongoing donations we
are now on a sound financial footing for the first time since the
Haven opened some nine years ago.”
In her first few pages of preamble to her report the matron, Maggie
Williams, gave many statistics on the AIDS pandemic and how it is
affecting carers and communities. She touched on training and the
continuance of the Wellness Management Course and the training of
community workers as well as the workshops being done at various
businesses. She also expressed her gratefulness for volunteers
saying, "We have had more volunteers than ever this year, with
Nelson Mandela Metropole University’s overseas student programme
sending willing hands constantly, and there are three volunteers
currently on full shifts, who are helping us tremendously. Then we
have ‘pop in’ volunteers, all desperately needed and so
appreciated, who hold a baby for a while.”
At the conclusion to her report Maggie said, “According to Tony
Campolo in the Awake Project (2002:xvii), the Christian response to
the AIDS pandemic has been abominable, with many saying that AIDS is
a punishment from God meted out to those who have been promiscuous.
Is there any logic in such an argument? Yet, here at the Haven we are
frequently told by funders that they will help the children but not
the adults, who they feel deserve to have the disease. Yet many young
women were infected by husbands or partners, not because they
themselves were promiscuous.
For a copy of the reports contact the Haven on 041 481 1515
Avec l'amour
The French connection - Matron Maggie Williams' daughter, Rebecca
(left), snuggles up to Caroline and Melanie, French students who are
spending two weeks working at the Haven as volunteers.
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