As you may recall, at the end of last year I put out a request for donations for a group of guys Jostina and I have been serving dinner to one night a week. I call them “MaGents.” I quickly received over $400 to sponsor HIV/AIDS testing and counselling for these young men. I am grateful that we were able to help 10 guys (and gift the nurses and counsellors as well) with $30 gift certificates for a local department store. Please pray with me that the knowledge of their individual status and education they received will prevent future infection of HIV and VIMBELA IGCIWANE ELISHA (”Stop the Virus,” in Zulu)!
The day after the 10 guys were tested and given their “gift,” the other 17 guys wanted in on the deal. So, I am asking again, please prayerfully consider how you can partner with us to serve this often neglected population of young men through a financial contribution and/or by spreading the word among those in your network. I need to raise $560 to reach 17 more young men! If you would like information on how to send $$, please email me!
The testing and counselling has been possible through a connection with a local HIV/AIDS resource center called Vimbela Igciwane Elisha. A truly amazing and sacrificial woman, Maria Sekaja, directs this underfunded non profit, grassroots organization based in Pretoria North. Vimbela exists to provide home based care to frail, sick and HIV/AIDS patients, initiate awareness campaigns and various support services to HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons. Vimbela was formed in 2002 by Maria and a group of women from the community concerned about the lack of care and support services available to those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS in the Northern subburbs of Pretoria, South Africa. As a registered non profit organization the staff of Vimbela, currently totalling 8, is responsible for securing funding for the services they provide. They currently offer all services free of charge as the people they serve are impoverished and cannot even afford a minimal fee.
Vimbela Igciwane Elisha operates from an office adjacent to the government run Pretoria North Health Clinic and a sub-office in the nearby township of Soshanguve. Vimbela is the only HIV/AIDS community support organization currently operating in the Northern subburbs of Pretoria. There are three local government health clinics who regularly refer patients to Vimbela. After the initial HIV counselling, testing and post counselling, patients infected by HIV receive no further support from the local clinic outside of health related visits. Daily the staff of Vimbela dedicate themselves to serving this neglected population with little recognition from the larger community as they strive to meet overwhelming needs. Vimbela struggles financially every month just to cover basic operating costs like phone, electricity, and office supplies. These costs must be covered and Maria regularly pays her staff before herself which means that she, and the other staff, often subsidize Vimbela personally each month. Maria, the two counsellors and two nurses who made MaGents testing possible were also given gift vouchers as a small expression of appreciation for their sacrificial dedication to the people they serve. A consistent and generous monthly donation could lessen the burden on Maria and her staff tremendously. Currently, Vimbela’s primary one time need is for a vehicle to transport patients to and from medical appointments. They need approximately $17,000 to purchase a 7 passenger vehicle.
Any help you could give either financially, by spreading the word of these needs to those who might be interested in donating, and even help with researching and requesting grants and donations from companies/organizations in the US would be greatly appreciated. You are welcome to pass along this information to anyone who may be interested. Please ask if you have any further questions or need more information concerning Vimbela and its needs.
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