St.Francis of Assisi 1181-1226

Thembalethu Home Based Care was set up in 1999 in response to the AIDS epidemic in the Nkomazi Region, Mpumalanga. It operates directly in 22 villages through 300 field workers with an approximate outreach of 250,000. We also have an outreach program into Swaziland and Mozambique with whom we share borders.

The purpose of our organization is to teach and equip people to care for dying AIDS patients, counsel traumatized families, take care of orphans, engage youth in life changing programs to combat HIV infection and to empower the local community to become self-sufficient.

Thembalethu’s philosophy is to offer a holistic solution to the existing pandemic by introducing appealing intervention programs which will result in a better life for those we serve.

Support Programs

• Home Based Care/Palliative Care

One of the greatest tragedies resulting from AIDS and poverty is the suffering which people endure in the final stages of death alone in their homes with no medical care. Our careworkers provide high quality care, clean homes, help family members cope, assist in funeral arrangements when necessary and counsel all of our patients.

• Counseling

Trained coordinators and careworkers provide spiritual and emotional counseling to all of our orphans, patients and families.

• Orphan Care

Material and social care is provided to approximately 4500 children. Many of these children have no family to look after them and receive no source of income. Thembalethu’s careworkers pay them regular visits—bringing them food and often take them into their own homes

• Health Services

Health assessment and education, basic counseling and over the counter medical supplies are provided through a mini-clinic on the premises.

• Home Gardens

In response to the needs identified by careworkers during their visitations, a home garden program was started in 2002 in 30 homes. By June 2006, 873 gardens have been established. These gardens are part of an ongoing self-sustaining project to provide food and income for the families

• Burial Services

Thembalethu ensures that destitute families can bury their loved ones with dignity by providing coffins and assisting with burials.

• HIV/AIDS Awareness Training

Ongoing HIV/AIDS awareness education is conducted through a ‘peer-to-peer’ youth program and through the network of careworkers.

• Food Distribution

High levels of unemployment, farm labor retrenchments and an influx of people from neighbouring countries have exacerbated the starvation levels in the community with many children and elderly going to bed without eating. We distribute a fortified food supplement and food parcel to the most needy.

YOUTH IN ACTION - HIV Prevention Program

‘Challenged to take control’

• Youth in Action was started to meet the needs of young people who have scant hope for a decent future amongst the impact of HIV/AIDS in an impoverished community. It is made up of 8 different teams catering to Thembalethu’s diverse community. They include: Performing Arts Team, Music Team, Sports Team, Latin American and Ballroom Dancing Team, SMME Desk (Small Micro Medium Enterprise), Arts and Craft Team, Educational Team and the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Team.

• Orphan Adventure Week

Since December 2004, 7 specialized life-skills courses accommodating 840 orphans have run. Children are assessed through a series of activities and counseling is given and follow up sessions arranged for those in need. (Forty-percent of orphans require ongoing counseling for severe trauma.)

• Income Generating Projects ( Asembeni Tourism, Wildly African Craft Project)

• The Nkomazi Voice

A weekly community newspaper providing local news, HIV/AIDS training, and educational material. The paper is run by the youth and has a weekly readership of 50,000-60,000.

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Nkomazi Background Information

The community of Nkomazi is evolving from a number of significant historic events which are contributing to poverty and AIDS.

These include:

• The war in Mozambique resulted in thousands of refugees pouring into the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The refugees have settled in South Africa (SA) and many are contributing economically to the community. However, many do not have legal documents and are unable to access SA government’s social support grants.

• During apartheid years the Nkomazi region was called the Kangwane Homeland and was used as a destination for many people forcefully removed from their traditional homes. The resettlement program of the apartheid government disturbed the natural evolution of communities thus creating numerous obstacles to sustainable development.

• A substantial number of cross border visitors come to stay with extended family members in Nkomazi with hopes of gaining employment to improve their lives.

• Climatic changes, with drought one year then abundance of rain the next, creates an uneven harvest and income for farmers.

• Unemployment is estimated to be well above 60% with the major employers being Government and the commercial sugar and citrus farms located 30-50klms away. The rural villages of Nkomazi, which house the majority of the population, support no manufacturing industry, and thus employment is sought from urban areas such as Nelspruit, Witbank, Johannesburg. This disrupts family structures and distorts the social development of children. There are many factors contributing to unemployment in the region, ranging from political insecurity, to new minimum wage laws to farm retrenchments of labor.

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