AAF Newsletter January 2012

Welcome to 2012! We hope that you all had a very happy Christmas and New Year. As we move into 2012, we are excited to be thinking about the possibilities it may bring. Please continue to partner with us in this new year. This edition includes an article on some UWS medical students who AAF has taken to South Africa, an uplifting and inspiring story from a past Lifeskills program student and a Thank You from some volunteers through the Philakahle Wellbeing Centre. Your donations certainly do make a difference.

University medical students Africa Bound!

African AIDS Foundation and Global Health Awareness Western Sydney (GHAWS), have entered a partnership which will see fourth year medical students from the University of Western Sydney undertake their electives in Africa.

AAF was approached in 2010 by students from GHAWS on behalf of the University of Western Sydney Medical Society about the possibility of spending time in an African hospital during their forthcoming elective in December. Dr John Schwarz was able to assist by helping arrange a placement at a rural Zulu hospital where he was medical superintendent from 1975 to 1984. “Four students will undertake a five week placement which will allow them to learn about medicine in a developing nation, where resources taken for granted in Australia are not readily available,” said Dr Schwarz, who travels each year to Africa to monitor projects supported by the people of Macarthur for the last ten years.

GHAWS representative Soondoos Raashed stated “This is a very exciting time for GHAWS and our students. We are a young medical school with even younger student groups and as such we have been very fortunate to encounter organisations such as AAF who are willing to help us not only further our education, but also to help us contribute to society as medical professionals in training.”

AAF has provided the four students with an orientation to what they can expect while on placement in Africa. The students will undertake a two day orientation to medicine in a developing environment at a teaching hospital in Durban prior to commencing their placement on 5 December at Emmaus Hospital, four hours south of Johannesburg in an area surrounded by Zulu Villages. The students will be accommodated at a youth camp near the hospital.

Photo – Jerome Crouche, Julia New-Tolley and Zainib Cheema with Dr John and Rosalie Schwarz. Kathryn Irwin is the fourth student travelling to Africa.

Where does the money go?

EVERY dollar goes to Africa! And it is stories like these that make it all worthwhile...

The letter below was written by a graduate of the Life Skills Program run at the Zamimpilo Training Centre. It is a great example of the work AAF is contributing to.

"Greetings All
Today the 21 of December 2011 we are visited by one of the children that was in the VBLS program and is now in the university. I would like him to write anything that he benefited from the program. His name is Thembelani, aged 20. They are the family of 9. " Vusi (AAF worker at Zamimpilo)

"Being part of this program helped me a lot because when I was at school they gave me school and they have taught me how to survive in this world.I have learnt a lot in this program like knowing my vision, my boundries being a hard woker. Before I joined the VBLS program I was going to school for the sake of going I had no vision and hope. When I lost my parentsI thought that It was the end of the world. The program gave me hope, Today I am at the University doing well beause of the teachings that I have received from the VBLS. I have completed my first year in the University without obstacles. I wish that this program continues and grow bigger to help other children who are needy. today I know how to choose right from wrong, I am able to say No if the need be, I have confidence in my abilities. I thank world Vision and all the funders that have made this program a success. I am no longer at the basic school but I regard VBLS and my home, I
will always be a part of the VBLS. to the team of the VBLS thank you for helping me
Thank you
Thambelani "

Thank you Australia!

"On the 9 December 2011 the referral network members (RN's) which consist of HBC's, CCG's and Traditional Leaders received a gift of umbrellas from Philakahle Wellbeing Centre under the Community Support Project, which Philakahle Wellbeing Centre got the funding for from, AFRICAN AIDS FOUNDATION(AAF) in Australia. The vision of the Community Support Project is, "To increase awareness of TB and HIV amongst community members, to increase the number of women, men, girls and boys who know their TB/HIV status, and to increase adherence to treatment for both diseases. The mission is "To manage and maintain a referral network for skilled community based helath workers in partnership with the DoH, who visit people at their homes and to refer them for testing and treatment and to support their wellbeing. The RN's were given umbrellas as their Christmas presents and as a way of Philakahle showing appreciation for the good work they are doing in the community of Okhahlamba Municipality to people affected and infected with TB and HIV. They(RN's) do home visits on sunny or rainy days to give support to their patients. Philikahle does not give them any stipends, they work voluntarily. They were so happy to receive the umbrellas, as they were not expecting a gift. We would like to thank AAF for making it possible for Philakahle to meet the need of umbrellas to the RN's because some walk long distances to visit their patients on sunny and rainy days. The timing of issuing the umbrellas was perfect as on this day it was raining and the umbrellas we gave them served their purpose! God bless these RN's, they love what they are doing and they have good relationships with their patients as well as the patients family members. We respect and love these women. We salute them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ntoks Shabalala(Project Manager)"