Barnabas Trust
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
The Barnabas Trust was established in South Africa in 2001. It currently works alongside more than 45 small community-based and church-based organisations, all of whom work in the field of HIV and AIDS. Through a programme of training and mentoring, Barnabas Trust helps them to develop into strong, sustainable and accountable organisations that are effective in serving their local communities.
The Barnabas Trust is a Christian organisation and its work is inspired by and based on biblical values. The Trust has played a crucial role in ensuring the provision of care to thousands of people affected by HIV and AIDS in the Port Elizabeth area.
iThemba has partnered with the Barnabas Trust in the past, enabling them to mentor and support a number of organisations. Some are iThemba partners, including St Paul’s Outreach, Lithemba, Ethembeni, Masizakhe and Ikhwezi Support Group. Now Barnabas Trust will be working with St Boniface based in Humansdorp near to Ethembeni, and Ubomi OButsha that reaches 80 children through its Sunday school programme and over 200 children and teens through its programmes during the week.
Our current support focuses on training pre-school teachers and care-givers, equipping them to tell children and adults about Christ and encourage them in their relationship with Him. This is a pilot programme for seven community and church-based groups, which are already involved in assisting those affected by HIV and AIDS in practical ways, but now want to complement and build on the existing work by providing much-needed spiritual support.
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