SEDGEFIELD LINKS
There are various community projects aimed at children and people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS that have been set up in recent years in the area of Sedgefield, about 25 km from Knysna. The Knysna Aids Council is now offering support and working in conjunction with two projects in Sedgefield: Sophie's Soup Kitchen and Masitandane.
SOPHIE'S SOUP KITCHEN
This is a project run under the auspice of Knysna Aids Council. Sophie Mpayipheli is an energetic woman who used to work as a counselor for Knysna Aids Council.
One day she spoke to Millicent Seela, Knysna Aids Council's Director, about the need to help communities in the Sedgefield area. Sophie explained that she often had children from her neighborhood coming to her house to receive some food but that she doesn't get any kind of help and is struggling to feed even her own children. She decided she wanted to bring hope to these children and with the help of Knysna Aids Council, she is now running a wonderful project which takes care of around 80 children HIV/AIDS affected/infected children who come to her home twice a day to receive meals. This project is similar to Nombulelo's after school care centre, however it is very under-funded for the moment and hardly surviving. Sophie is currently still doing all the cooking in the small kitchen in her house. The Knysna Aids Council has organized for this project to receive school uniforms, stationery, and of course food supplies. But there is a great need for more funds to arrive,
which will enable us to provide these children with food everyday, give them an education and also build a better house for the project.
MASITANDANE
The Council also works alongside Masitandane, a community project based in Sedgefield, which provides HIV and AIDS support. Millicent Seela used to be a member of Masitandane and through the years she has organized for some of the staff members of Masitandane to receive training at the Council. The Council helps this project by sharing their knowledge and expertise with them, and supporting them to grow as an NGO. Furthermore, with the help of KAC, Masitandane now runs a free HIV testing and counseling site every Thursday from 12 to 2 PM. This is of course helping to raise awareness in the Sedgefield area regarding HIV and AIDS.
www.helpinghands.za.com/masithandane.html
Article Published in The Edge September 2006
Clothing and compassion for those in need
With the generous support of many Sedgefield residents-especially the Sedgefield Christian Church congregation who donated lots of beautiful clothes-the Knysna Aids Council has once again been able to help community members in need.
On Sunday, 10th of September, the KAC set up a clothing distribution booth at Agape Ministries Church in Smutsville. Although the weather was rainy and windy, many people attended the worship service and were delighted to obtain beautiful warm clothes-especially on such a cold and rainy day.
Whilst everyone is susceptible to hard times, families living with HIV/AIDS are most at risk. They represent the majority of clients KAC serves, for many have lost their jobs because of deteriorating health or discrimination at work due to their HIV/AIDS status.
All of us know, many needy families and individuals in our community go without proper clothing. This winter in particular, the combination of cold weather and floods has left many people suffering. The Aids Council is doing its best to meet their needs.
Apart from clothing distributions, the KAC Community Support Service also runs a soup kitchen to serve the ARV Clinic in Knysna, and supports two schools in Concordia. With the help of many overseas sponsors, school fees for life has been paid for over 30 pupils whose families can't afford them.
However, many more children are deprived of education simply because their parents are unable to pay school fees, and KAC is urgently looking for other sponsors - perhaps locals - to open their hearts and give a child the chance to rise out of poverty and despair. Alternatively, the KAC suggests that folks get involved in social work in the Segdefield community by supporting the Sophie's Soup Kitchen.
This extraordinary project provides daily warm meals to impoverished children in Smutsville, using facilities way too small to cope with serving so many portions as day. In order to upgrade the facility, Sophie confirms that any donation of building materials would be truly appreciated".
At its office in Knysna, the Aids Council offers strictly confidential and free HIV testing. The test itself is only a quick prick on one finger, and results are available within minutes. Furthermore, those undergoing this simple but most important test are counselled, before and after the HIV test by compassionate and trained staff. Testing takes place Mondays to Thursdays from 8 am to 4 pm or Fridays by appointment. Businesses and institutions have the option to invite the KAC to run an HIV/AIDS awareness workshop and additional HIV testing at their premises.
