|
Executive summary: The Nordic-South African business aid programme has decided to support exclusively Gail Johnson's organisation for children and their mothers with HIV/Aids.By Louise Kastberg The Nordic- South African business aid programme Adopt A Female Business has decided to support exclusively former businesswoman Gail Johnson's organisation for children and their mothers with HIV/Aids, Nkosi Johnson AIDS Foundation. The organisation runs three projects in and around Johannesburg, Nkosi's Haven and Nashua's Nkosi's Haven, Nkosi's Haven 4 Life Farm and Nkosi's Haven Village - Alan Manor. "The plan is to support the organisation with funding, PR and volunteers," says Peter Horn, who founded Adopt A Female Business last year. The reason for selecting Nkosi Johnson AIDS Foundation is the outstanding nature of the project and the heavy problem, HIV and Aids represent for all South Africans. Official figures state there are more than 5.6 million people in South Africa infected by HIV and Aids, but estimated are much higher - up till 9 million people infected. "Nkosi Johnson AIDS Foundation is giving HIV/Aids-infected children and their mothers not only hope, but also a better life. A new research progamme is set up to verify, how better life conditions and mental and medical care can help at least some of the children to an almost normal life,"says Peter Horn. |
Last year, Nobel for Peace Summit Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev marked the launch of the KidsRights Foundation's first international Children's Peace Prize in Rome, Italy, by awarding the prize posthumously to Nkosi Johnson, who passed away in 2001 at the age of 12.
During his life, Nkosi fought for the rights of children living with HIV/Aids. Representing Nkosi in Rome were his foster mother Gail Johnson, and his little foster brother, 4-year old Thabo. "Nkosi's Haven", the project for children and their mothers with HIV/Aids that Nkosi started by himself, will be awarded the prize money of 100.000 US Dollars. The Children's Peace Prize statuette, which is passed on to the new Child Laureate every year, will be called "the Nkosi".
In July 2000, Nkosi captured the hearts of millions of TV viewers, when his self-written address at the 13th International Aids Conference in Durban, South Africa, was televised worldwide. Nkosi was born HIV positive on February 4, 1989 in South Africa. During his lifetime, he fought for the rights of children with HIV/Aids; he encouraged the Government of South Africa to provide anti-HIV medication for pregnant women to save the lives of thousands of South African children. With his foster mother, he opened homes for mothers and children with Aids. Nkosi made his mark when he personally got the South African government to draw up a policy forcing schools to open their classrooms to children with HIV/Aids.
KidsRights is a foundation of Dutch origin and promotes children's basic rights worldwide.
|
The
organisation Nkosi's Haven
and Nashua's Nkosi's Haven |
|
Nkosi's Haven 4 Life Farm
A 12-acre farm has been purchased approximately 15 km north of Vereeniging (on
the old Vereeniging Road) and will service the township of Sebokeng and the
informal settlement of Orange Farm. The intention is to operate a
self-sustaining 'kibbutz' on this property.
Nkosi's Haven Village - Alan Manor
With a grant received from the Gauteng Department of Housing:
Social Housing Special needs, a property comprising 1 large house and 17
cottages has been purchased. On completion the property will accommodate 100
HIV/AIDS infected mothers and 183 children (infected or not). Whilst the
accommodation is ready at the Village, major additions are still required
before occupation can take place. As it is the intention to set the Village
up as a research centre from a ‘lifestyle intervention’ point of view
the additional facilities required are industrial catering, laundry,
comprehensive therapy block etc. The research will concentrate on the
psychological, emotional, nutritional, medicinal and overall well being of
the residents, which to-date has indicated that particularly the HIV
infected residents are not succumbing to AIDS. Another important factor,
which assists the health status of the mothers, is that be accommodating
them on a long term basis, they are not subject to the possibility of
regular re-infection with an infected partner.
First steps
First initiative for Nkosi Johnson AIDS Foundation and Nkosi's
Haven will be taken Monday September 4 at a conference, "The SAS
Turnaorund" at Copenhagen Business School, where profits will be shared
between Nkosi's Haven and Save The Children.
"Other initiatives are visibility in the Scandinavian media, establishing an organisation for ambassadors and volunteers - and funding," says Peter Horn.
On behalf of Nkosi Johnson AIDS Foundation Gail Johnson is pleased with the initiative.
"At this stage, Peter has underlined, he cannot promise too much. He and I hope these first steps of cooperation can bring out others, that will help us with funding or by giving us a hand, one way or another," says Gail Johnson.
---
Read more: www.nkosi.iafrica.com
---
If you want to join as an ambassador or a volunteer, please apply to: Peter
Horn or Lone Rud, Peter Horn & Co, ee@peterhorn.dk, phone +45 33 93 32
55 or cell +45 40 46 78 98.
