ACHIVA Report, December 2010

VISITS THIS YEAR

Whilst continuing to spread awareness of the high incidence of HIV and AIDS, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, ACHIVA’s focus over the last two years has been to concentrate our energies on the emerging opportunities for community work in South Africa, strengthened by visits between us and our partners. Our work was recently boosted by a visit from Masi Makhalemele to Oxford in November. Masi and the Mercy AIDS Foundation, along with All Saints’ Church, are our partners in South Africa, as we work together closely to address the many community challenges which arise because of poverty and the high incidence of HIV and AIDS in the North West Province. Masi spoke to sixth formers in Oxford and to ACHIVA supporters in Kidlington. She gave interviews to BBC Oxford, the Church Times, and an emissary of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and worked hard to spread her message to British supporters of South Africa. We are inspired by Masi’s philosophy of “Wellness”, particularly concerning HIV affected mothers who need help to raise their children, and of “Acceptance” of everyone at the point where they happen to be.

Looking back to January, 2010, ACHIVA Chair, Kathryn Ellis, attended a joint diocesan conference on Peer Education in Kimberley before heading to Montshiwa to catch up on progress there. It became obvious that the people were stirring and more ready to take on the challenges.

In April 2010 Eleanor Williamson spent a month in Kimberley, also in connection with building a Peer Education programme for the diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman.

In August Kathryn again led a small group to Johannesburg and Montshiwa. They travelled with fourteen bags containing donations of articles to help create saleable craft items and introduce craftwork to schools. The group were perplexed by the bitterly cold weather then, but enjoyed the warmth of the Mercy AIDS Foundation’s celebration of Women’s Day, and meeting the staff and clients and their families. Kathryn also made contact with the Diocese of Johannesburg’s HIV&AIDS Coordinator and visited some of their Isibindi programmes. Travelling on to Montshiwa, the group spent two days working in Molema Memorial School, introducing the children to the concept of “Memory Books”, during a week packed with opportunities to learn more about the area and consolidate their existing friendships, while making new ones.

WHERE WE WORK
Our South African base lies in a township on the edge of Mafikeng, which is linked to the parish of Kidlington, near Oxford, through an Anglican diocesan link. The North West Province of South Africa is a part of the world where just about everyone regularly attends church services, and the network of parishes and church and school buildings forms an ideal setting for spreading preventative health education messages. This was our point of departure.

NEW CENTRE CREATED
We have now reached a very exciting stage, with the opening of a new centre during this visit, in a building near the church. The Moitsheki Health and Skills Development Centre is manned by young people, who are mentored by a committee of older people. It seeks to provide a friendly place to drop in for help. There is a counselling room, a library/homework room for children, and a workroom already producing high quality beadwork, sewing, knitting and crocheting. Money raised from selling crafts has so far been used to buy food – thus stimulating the skills and earning capacity of these young people who stand no chance of finding employment elsewhere. At the same time the young counsellors, trained by the Mercy AIDS Foundation, seek to help other young people suffering trauma from family illness and death, and problems associated with teenage pregnancy, suicide, crime and addiction, and even imprisonment.
 
SPORT
One of the most striking successes followed a large delivery of soccer balls in July, thanks to “Fund a Football”s successful fundraising in the Kidlington community. After an initial training course a member of the centre has taken on football coaching for the children in the area, and a second tournament has just been held to take advantage of the huge enthusiasm. Every day after school many children just turn up, and set about training of their own accord. This not only improves their physical and mental health but provides them with a safe environment. It inspires their ambitions for the future, while teaching self-discipline, self-respect and teamwork. The project was given a huge boost in August by a visit from the South African National soccer coach, Pitso Mosimane, who continues to encourage them, and by “Fund a Football”, who provided soccer boots and other equipment. Girls’ teams are encouraged, and it is planned to use this gathering of children to enable mutual understanding between the sexes, and to pass on health messages through sport.

COMMUNITY
The church has 17 outstations thus connecting many adults and children from the villages to these programmes.
Emphasising its inclusive community and non-discriminatory approach, the members of the centre have befriended the Katlegong home for “street children” nearby, and endeavour to include the children in all events. They will be holding a Christmas party for them this year.

FOOD GROWING
A plot of land has recently been acquired to be the setting for agricultural training for 50 young people. Already the garden at the centre has been planted with vegetable seedlings to teach cultivation and supplement the diet.

HOW WE WORK
In this, as in all the projects, we are fortunate to be able to rely on local experience to lead programmes. Our aim is to call on the existing pool of local knowledge and enthusiasm, and to encourage the young people to employ their talents and energy to work together to improve the lives of everyone. We try to motivate and inspire people who have become downhearted after suffering so much sickness and bereavement in their community. Applying a different approach, showing that we care, and giving hope can bring encouragement to persevere and get through difficulties, to the point where life seems again worth living.

COMING PROGRAMME
In 2011 we aim to consult more closely with the teachers in some of the local schools and find ways of supporting the many children left without parental guidance, and the teachers who are often the only caring adults in their lives, but who also face their own difficulties.

FINANCES
Financial support is obviously vital to sustain the progress of these programmes and we cannot hope to find this alone. With the guidance of the Mercy AIDS Foundation the Moitsheki Centre has applied for Non-Profit Organisation status from the NW Provincial government in Mafikeng and is currently going through the process which should bring in money from government grants. This we see as essential for the future. In the meantime progress depends on small donations from sympathisers here and in South Africa. If you would like to join them please get in touch through this website.