Our Projects and Activities

Professional medical services and care provided by dedicated medical staff Provision of free Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) treatment to > 500 patients Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Home visits and telephone contact of patients on ARVs by Adherence Treatment Monitors Daily soup kitchen to provide nutritional support Individual and peer support sessions provided by trained peer educators Saturday Learners Program for adolescent youth from local schools In-clinic phlebotomy services Free medications and vitamin supplement distribution to patients HIV/AIDS education presentations to local primary and high schools Targeted HIV awareness programmes for men and boys in our "Other Half" initiative Health educational presentations on clinic days Provision of decentralized counselling, support, and care through affiliated home-based care organizations Free condom distribution Training opportunities and skills development offered to volunteers in the areas of lay counselling, medical care, administration, computer literacy, etc.   Fundraising events i.e., car washes, World AIDS Day events, Children’s Christmas Parties Free educational pamphlets and brochures

Saturday Learner’s Program

The Saturday Learner’s Program (SLP) was developed and implemented in 2004 by Ikhwezi in partnership with Walter Sisulu University (WSU) (formerly Border Technikon), as an innovative way of educating youth about HIV/AIDS. The SLP’s overarching goal is to “equip young men and women with the knowledge needed to make informed, responsible decisions in their young lives.” Trained peer educators from WSU led by Viwe Maliti, Ikhwezi’s “Youth Program Coordinator,” actively engage fifteen, 14-18 year old high school students from East London and the surrounding townships in HIV/AIDS related interactive discussions and role play. Topics discussed at the SLP include: HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention, sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), rape, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, drugs and alcohol, sexual abuse, homosexuality and self esteem.

A typical day at the SLP begins at 9am with “energizers,” to establish a relaxed, informal environment to discuss HIV/AIDS and the often taboo issues surrounding sexual health. Each student participant is transported to and from Ikhwezi via public taxi and receives a complementary lunch and snack throughout the day. Upon completion of the SLP, student participants are encouraged to diffuse their newly acquired HIV/AIDS knowledge with their families, friends and fellow classmates in the hopes of generating further discussion and informing a larger audience surrounding the issue of HIV/AIDS.

The Saturday Learner’s Program is an innovative, invaluable component of Ikhwezi’s work to fight HIV/AIDS in East London, South Africa. However, the SLP is also a cost-intensive initiative which requires ongoing financial support.
The SLP incurs the following costs each program day:
• Transportation of learners to and from Ikhwezi by local taxi (~R300)
• Lunch and snack for each learner (~R200)

If you would like to support the efforts of this unique program, the SLP is currently in need of the following items:
• Digital camera
• Overhead projector
• Desktop
• Monetary donations for the bi-weekly running of the program

Support Group Fundraising and Empowerment Activities
Ikhwezi’s support group was initiated in 2005 by a group of Ikhwezi patients who sought a “safe space” in which to share their HIV experiences. The support group currently has 39 registered members and meets each Tuesday from 12-2pm at the centre. Each week the support group engages in HIV/AIDS related discussions and is actively involved in fundraising initiatives for Ikhwezi. In fact, Ikhwezi’s support group recently received a substantial donation from Omnimed Ltd., receiving sewing machines, a computer, nutrient supplements, clothing, toys, food and blankets. As consequence of this generous donation, the Ikhwezi support group is starting computer and sewing workshops for its members in the ensuing months. The support group has also been very active in facilitating car washes to raise funds for the centre and visits other community support groups in East London upon request. Overall, Ikhwezi’s support group has played a fundamental role in motivating patients to accept their status and go on with life after a positive diagnosis and has empowered them to live positively and regain their sense of self worth.

Square-Foot Gardening Initiative
A garden initiative entitled “Skills for a Brighter Future” has recently been initiated at Ikhwezi by the American intern, Lyndsie Wilson. The project’s overarching goal is to “empower Ikhwezi patients with a renewed sense of pride and purpose in their lives and allow patients to better meet their nutritional needs by learning new gardening techniques.” “Square foot” gardening was developed by the professional gardener, Mel Bartholomew, and has long been regarded as “a highly space efficient gardening technique.” In essence, the “square foot” concept simply cuts out the wasted space that is created by planting in rows and uses 1 by 1 meter boxes to plant a given vegetable, herb, or flower, therefore, taking up as little space as possible. This technique, also requires less watering and weeding, reduces wasting seeds by effectively calculating the exact amount needed for a given plot and can be implemented in a variety of spaces and climates. “Square foot” gardening training began on September 26, 2006 with some members of the Ikhwezi support group and will continue for next three months.

The “Other Half Project”: Involving Xhosa Men in HIV/AIDS Programming

Project Summary
The Other Half Project seeks to address the disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS on women in the Eastern Cape, one of South Africa’s poorest regions, by promoting male involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Male behaviour is one of the main determinants of infection rates in women. Through fostering dialogue between men and women, encouraging male youth participation in outreach programs, and strengthening the management capacity of the Ikhwezi-Lokusa Wellness Centre to respond to the distinct needs of women, this project aims to challenge the socialized gender roles that increase women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.

Background Information
While South Africa’s post-apartheid identity is in the process of definition, the dynamic country is faced with a complex set of social, economic and cultural challenges. Democracy has precipitated both good and bad change; the dissolution of physical and psychological barriers around skin colour is contrasted with poverty, violence and the cross-cutting AIDS pandemic. According to UNAIDS, between 5.3 and 5.6 million South Africans are infected with HIV, which represents a prevalence rate of 21.5% (range: 18.5% - 24.9%) and the largest number of people infected in a single country in the world.

East London, in one of South Africa’s poorest provinces, the Eastern Cape, represents a historically rich but economically neglected region in and around the former homelands of Transkei and Ciskei. The population is predominantly Xhosa, with approximately 750 000 living in Mdantsane, South Africa’s second largest township. East London has the highest HIV infection rate in pregnant women, between 21 and 29% . Infection rates in females are generally higher than in males; while there are 5.3 million adults (15-49) infected, 2.9 million of these are women .

It has been well documented that contemporary gender roles increase women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and create expectations that women will assume the burden of care and support for the sick. A lesser amount of attention, however, has been paid to how male behaviour presents a singular opportunity for men to make a difference in the daily experiences of women.

Project Objectives
The project seeks to promote social justice by challenging the attitudes and behaviours of men that compromise their health and that of women in their communities. Working strategically with males addresses the impact of HIV/AIDS on women, integrates their needs in a holistic way and promotes gender equality. This project aims to create environments that confront the following:
Social and traditional norms construct unhealthy gender roles and an unequal balance of power ;
Men’s health is of critical importance but receives inadequate attention; men are rarely encouraged to participate in the treatment and care, or engage in candid dialogue about HIV/AIDS issues.

In collaboration with Ikhwezi’s home-base care units, Sizanani and Sophakama, in Mdantsane and Duncan Village respectively, the project will target adult males to create Dialogue Circles. These communities are home to 71% of Ikhwezi’s patients. Explicit discussions of masculinity and educational activities will create solidarity among the participants and foster empowerment. An innovative Couples Campaign will be designed and implemented as a community awareness initiative to encourage couples to visit Ikhwezi together for testing, treatment and education.

A supplementary program for male learners will be added to the existing bi-weekly student awareness program and the Saturday Learners Program at Ikhwezi. Drama, an element inherent in the Xhosa culture, will be the methodology, allowing males to explore storytelling, role playing and stereotypes in a safe, candid and open space.

Addressing issues of gender and HIV/AIDS
The program reflects and is built upon a fundamental understanding of the negative ways in which the unequal balance of power between men and women manifests itself in South African communities and contributes to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Women’s lives are disproportionately affected and burdened by HIV/AIDS. They experience higher HIV infection rates; 57% of adults infected in South Africa are female. Even if not infected, those affected by HIV/AIDS are also typically more frequently female. Providing care for the sick, as well as supporting and caring for children are responsibilities assumed by women. It is estimated that in 2003, 1.1 million children were orphaned by AIDS .

Social norms often discourage women from challenging these realities and hinder real progress. Current gender roles give men the ability to influence and/or determine the reproductive health choices made by women and compromise men’s health by encouraging men to equate a range of risky behaviours as “manly,” and health-seeking behaviours as signs of weakness. Xhosa masculinity, in a sexual context, is often defined in terms of dominance over women, the acquisition of multiple partners, and a negative attitude towards condoms, thus limiting opportunities for women to refuse or negotiate safe sex. It is essential to challenge these stereotypes and promote cultural growth in order to decrease infection rates in women, and promote social gender equality.