| MANY
HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK – AND BRING HOPE
 One
of HIVAN's main goals is to support the formation
of partnerships between individuals and groups
from different sectors so that practical projects
to assist those affected by HIV/AIDS can be launched
and sustained.
The Sinikithemba/University of KwaZulu-Natal Feeding Scheme
is one such project: a multi-layered partnership
drawing together University staff members, students,
the Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit, McCord Hospital's
Sinikithemba HIV/AIDS Care Centre personnel and
HIV/AIDS-affected families.
The seeds of the Scheme were planted when a 3rd-year
Psychology student at the NU Durban campus, who
was doing a course in 'Service Learning' (in which
community work is undertaken as practical experience
to support theoretical study), met an elderly
HIV-infected woman who had been found starving
in her home. The student was deeply moved by the
woman's plight, and approached her lecturer, Kerry
Frizelle, for guidance as to how this woman might
be helped.
Kerry takes up the story: "I understood
my student's pain and her wish to provide the
woman with food as often as she could and I too
felt anxious about the elderly woman's hunger
and poverty. But the aim of Service Learning education
is to find sustainable solutions for beneficiaries,
and to steer students away from creating situations
in which members of poor communities would become
dependent on students. Yet the students' very
purpose in working in these settings is to assist
as much as they can, to take action and make a
difference!"
Kerry put this question to the Service Learning
class as a problem for them to solve. All agreed
that referring the case to Social Services was
not the answer. The entire group felt helpless,
until one student suggested the idea of a feeding
scheme through which University staff members
who could afford to donate a monthly amount would
sponsor a regular supply of basic foods for a
hungry, HIV/AIDS-affected family. "I approached
HIVAN with the proposal," says Kerry, "and
the joint outreach venture was established through
partnering with McCord Hospital's Sinikithemba
HIV/AIDS Christian Care Centre, which was already
doing this work but needed more capacity."
The Scheme is now in full operation, and at the
time of writing was providing food to 30 families
per month. Using the funds donated monthly by
University staff via a nominal salary deduction,
Dudu Zondi, HIVAN's Community Outreach Co-ordinator,
purchases the food items. Through the Campus HIV/AIDS
Support Unit, she oversees a team of volunteers
from the Student Working Group who pack, deliver
and hand over the parcels at the Sinikithemba
Centre.
The food items are supplied at a discount by
Knowles Spar, and the paper packets are sponsored
by Sappi Kraft and Nampak Sacks. The parcel contents
provide emergency relief for destitute families,
and consist of white mealie-meal, peanut butter,
white kidney beans, brown speckled beans, fat-free
powdered milk (no blends), samp, sugar, savoury
soya mince and mabella porridge. Garlic will soon
be included for its medicinal properties.
 "The
student volunteers also spend time with the families
at a support group session convened weekly by
Sinikithemba's social worker, Maud Mthembu,"
explains Dudu. "It's very informative for
the students, because they increase their knowledge
of HIV/AIDS along with the families. For example,
at a recent meeting, they learned more about microbicides
and how these can empower women in self-protection."
Some of the family members who are living openly
with HIV/AIDS share their experiences with the
students, which is valuable for all involved.
"Being open about my HIV status makes me
feel free," explained one, "because
the stress of keeping it secret makes one feel
ill. These support groups are a great help and
of course, so are the food parcels."
The Scheme shows every sign of expansion. Donations
from staff are increasing every month, and soon,
Dudu says, more than 50 families will be receiving
food parcels. One student has offered to tutor
the support group members in computer skills,
and plans are in place for 27 family members to
attend "Positive Living" workshops to
be run by the UND Student Working Group at the
Sinikithemba site.
For more information about the Scheme, contact:
Madudu Zondi. Tel: (031) 260 2132. Fax: (031)
260 2397. Email: zondid2@nu.ac.za
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