20 December 2004 - Christmas comes early for AIDS Orphans
 
The festive season for the AIDS orphans being cared for by the Sizanani centres in Meadowlands, Soweto and Orange Farm will be that much easier thanks to a joint venture by Nkosi’s Haven and the Soweto Gospel Choir, which saw the donation of groceries to the value of R30 000 to each organisation.
Included in the food hampers was R5 0000 worth of meat and staple food items such as samp, mealie meal, canned goods and fruit and vegetables. Also, to bring some festive cheer to the children sweets and dessert goods were added to the mix. The food is expected to sustain the organisations, who cater for 250 and 217 orphans respectively, for approximately a month.
In addition to the foodstuff a deep freeze and a four plate stove were donated to the Sinzanani Centre in Meadowlands.
This donation is all thanks to an initiative launched in August last year the Soweto Gospel Choir has managed to raise in excess of R600 000 through donations given by patrons attending concerts performed by the group overseas. The collection of the money is handled by the choir members who take care of the logistics of gathering donations after the show and the banking thereof.
At the request of the members of the choir it was decided that the money be donated to organisations caring for aids orphans in South Africa, with particular emphasis on those based within the Soweto area. A special bank account was opened for this purpose – Nkosi’s Haven Vukani, which is administered by Nkosi’s Haven.
 
Gail Johnson of Nkosi’s Haven says, “We are delighted by how successful the project has been to date and look forward to continuing to use the money to not only sustain the mothers and children living in Nkosi’s Haven but the other chosen organisations in the future.The beauty of the programme is that is shows how every donation, no matter how big or small, can have an impact and assist in bettering the lives of those affected by Aids.”
The philosophy and concept of Nkosi's Haven is to offer long-term residential care to destitute HIV/AIDS infected mothers and her child/children, thus keeping the mother and child 'unit' together for as long as possible.
Should the mother so state in her last will and testament, Nkosi’s Haven assumes responsibility of the resulting AIDS orphan/s (infected or not). In addition the organisation is also open to and provides for children who are orphaned by AIDS, but whose mother was not a resident.
At present, Nkosi's Haven consists of two residences next door to each other in Berea, Johannesburg, where 13 Mothers and 46 children are housed. Of the children being cared for eight are infected and 24 are AIDS orphans.
Prepared by : Penny Healy
Parfait Management
(011) 783 5313