Masizakhe Project
KwaZakhele, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
The Masizakhe Community Project brings together Christians from several local churches and is one of the first community-based organisations supported by iThemba.
The project operates in a difficult district. Historically, its residents tended to be men living away from their families while working in the city. There were problems with prostitution, alcohol and drug abuse, and violence and crime. As a result, it is estimated that the HIV prevalence rate in the community is between a staggering 45 and 60%.
Beatrice set up the project the same year her daughter died from an AIDS-related illness. Today she heads up a team of volunteers who support the local community through home-based care and skills training programmes, counselling services, a pre-school and an after-school programme for children affected by HIV and AIDS, food parcels and a soup kitchen.
Helping children affected by HIV/AIDS
The preschool provides a safe place for children who are orphaned or whose mothers are unwell and HIV-positive. The premises are cramped, but the children are cared for and receive healthy meals. Beatrice hopes they can move to a bigger building in the future so that more children can be helped.
Falling demand for home-based care
The availability of antiretroviral medication in Port Elizabeth is already making a dramatic difference to Masizakhe’s work. Less people need home-based care and fewer parents are dying of AIDS-related illnesses. Volunteers have turned their attention to ensuring that people understand their medication and realise the importance of taking it regularly. This is vital to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment.
A brighter future
As they care for their community, all those involved at Masizakhe are very clear about their motivation for the work they do – their Christian faith inspires them to reach out to local people and help them both in practical and spiritual ways as they face the challenges of HIV and AIDS and help those affected to feel supported and loved.
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