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 In order to create a bridge between the University of KwaZulu-Natal and its surrounding communities, the community outreach programme intends to link academics, students and staff at the University with the outside world.
Many students and staff have indicated a willingness and desire to get involved, on a more profound level, with households and families that have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
The Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit intends to create partnerships with community projects in order to facilitate this community interaction.
The Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit is an initiative that was founded by The Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking (HIVAN). After three successful years, it has been formally incorporated into the University of KwaZulu-Natal's AIDS Programme.
A Circle of Giving
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Photo by Dudu Zondi
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Community Outreach volunteers attached to HIVAN?s Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit at the University of KwaZulu-Natal?s Howard College campus held a fundraising event over two days in May 2005. Over R1 500 was collected from the sale of raffle tickets for patients and families at McCord Hospital?s Sinikithemba Care Centre, and more than 15 bags of clothing were donated to the Hillcrest AIDS Trust Centre for their income-generation scheme.
The lucky draw held on 11 and 12 May offered prizes that included meal vouchers for the Wimpy and Spur Restaurants? Davenport outlets, SunCoast Nu-Metro movie tickets , CDs from Musica, wine from Queensmead Spar and a toaster from Knowles Spar, East Coast Radio T-shirts, a sports-bag from Standard Bank and books from HIVAN.
More fundraising events are planned for the coming months, and the Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit serves as a drop-off and redistribution point for anyone wishing to donate clothing at any time.
Sinikithemba HIV Support Group Vegetable Garden
The Sinikithemba HIV Support Group vegetable garden was initiated by the UKZN student project volunteers in December 2004, and it began with nothing ? not even the money or supplies needed to plant the garden.
The garden was created with and for the Support Group, which is based at McCord hospital in Durban, with the aim of supplementing the food parcels the Group receives from the McCord / Sinikithemba / HIVAN Feeding Scheme Project.
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One of the UKZN student volunteers, Vincent Myeni, taking his turn to water the garden
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This feeding scheme was first conceptualised in 2001 by four University Psychology students, and plans to implement it developed under the auspices of the Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking (HIVAN) and its Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit, at the University of Natal. The scheme provides healthy food packages to families affected by HIV/AIDS on a regular basis. Funding for the scheme is provided mostly through University staff members, who donate a monthly amount that is deducted from their salary.
When the vegetable garden project was in the planning stages, student volunteers approached different academic departments on their campus and motivated staff and students in a drive to raise money for start-up costs. They managed to raise R475, and with these funds, bought basic materials for the garden: manure, fertiliser, a hose-pipe, a spade, a watering can, a shade-cloth, a fork and a rake. The students then planted seedlings donated to the project by the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust: spinach, beetroot, onions and green pepper.
This year, when the students returned from vacation, they found the garden had come to life, with the vegetables they'd planted in December flourishing!
Through their generosity and willingness to help - whether from their pockets or in the planting - concerned members of our University community have made the launch of this project a tremendous success. However, the produce from the garden and the provision of food parcels for the Support Group members and their families will not be sustainable projects without continuous support throughout the year.
HIVAN's Community Outreach Projects - A Roundup
McCord/Sinikithemba HIVAN UKZN Feeding Scheme
What is the Project?
- Food parcels given to the HIV-support group members at Sinikithemba Care Centre - McCord Hospital
- UKZN staff donations provide money for food parcels
How do you get involved?
- Help pack food
- Recruit new staff members to contribute
- Visit and interact with support group members
Vegetable Gardens
What is the Project?
- Fresh vegetables from this project supplement food parcels provided in the Feeding Scheme Project
- Garden situated next to the Sinikithemba Care Centre
- Support group members generate income from the sale of veggies
How do you get involved?
- Help plant fresh veggies
- Help maintain, supervise and sustain the garden
- Help fundraise for the project
Orphan Care and Support
 What is the Project?
- Spending time with kids
- Helping in taking care of toddlers, i.e. bathing, feeding, playing, etc.
- Sports and fun-day events are held in order to engage older kids in a constructive manner
- Youth are given support with their school work and other activities
How do you get involved?
- Help take care of toddlers at a home in Manor Gardens, or
- Work with youth at a home in Bothas Hill
- Do fundraising for the homes
- Collect donations for clothes, books, toys and other goods
The Sinikithemba/McCord Hospital UKZN Feeding Scheme
The feeding scheme is taking off! It was a moment of excitement on the day the students from the Durban working group were packing the long-awaited food parcels for a support group called 'Sinikithemba' / 'We Give Hope' at McCord Hospital in Overport, Durban.
McCord Hospital in Durban runs an HIV/AIDS support unit called Sinikithemba (meaning, we have hope). The support unit is located on the hospital premises on the Berea and is affiliated with the hospital but is, currently an unregistered non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Much of the income at the unit is generated by means of selling craft work and sewing that are completed by the actual patients who frequent the Unit. In addition to this the support unit also has a choir that has recorded and produced two CDs which, when sold on the market will also be a source of income. Being an NGO, the Unit also relies on funding from other institutions and organisations.
The support unit provides various important services to HIV/AIDS patients many of whom are from very poor communities and are thus not able to afford the treatment and support from other hospitals. A few of these services include, a support group for patients, nutritional drinks for patients awaiting treatment at the hospital, medical care assistance, and most importantly, food packages which are distributed to those patients needing it the most. The Unit is run by a dedicated team of social workers. In addition to this, a psychologist and a dietician also provide much needed assistance to the unit.
The scheme was first initiated by four University Psychology students, The Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking (HIVAN) and its Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The scheme aims to provide healthy food packages to families affected by HIV/AIDS on a regular basis as well as assisting with the maintenance of their vegetable garden. With regards to the food packages, this involves setting up direct drop-off points between the University and the Unit, for certain food items as well as obtaining a commitment from students to assist in the transportation. Furthermore, it involves obtaining written permission from the Head of School of Psychology, for the use of the facultys Toyota Condor. In addition to this, various administrative functions need to be carried out such as finding a sponsor for packets in which to pack the food.
To contribute to the scheme, staff are approached to voluntarily donate a monthly amount from their salary. Students are also approached to donate to the project in terms of manpower or food items.
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