South
African Initiative - Background
(not affiliated with The NAMES Project)
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IN THIS SECTION
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In 1998, the idea
of bringing a portion of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to South Africa was introduced
at a NAMES Project National Chapter Conference. A discussion among Archbishop
Desmond Tutu's office, Harvard AIDS Institute, the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People ("NAACP"), and
the Sizwe Sonke Quilting Project of South Africa (established in 1989 by Carroll
Jacobs), was begun to see how this American program could assist in efforts
in South Africa.
In 1999 a representatives from the NAMES Project, and a volunteer from International
AIDS Prevention Initiative ("IAPI"), (then known as The NAMES Project-NYC),
attended the first display of the entire South African Quilt. The display was
organized by Beyond Awareness Campaign ("BAC"), a South African non-governmental
organization ("NGO"), that started using the Quilt in 1998 in an effort
to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in the Durban and Kwa Zulu Natal regions
(northeastern areas of South Africa). The display took place August 6-7, 1999
at the University of Zululand in Empangeni. Portions of the American Quilt was
included in this display.
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In 1999, researchers
estimated that 1 out of 5 people in South Africa were infected with HIV.
The World Health Organization ("WHO")
estimated more than 21 million people in Sub-Saharan South Africa would die
from AIDS in the next ten years. Eight million children had been orphaned
by AIDS and at least one-third of these children were themselves infected
with HIV. One-half of all new infections would be and continues to occur
in youth ages 15 to 23. Widespread poverty in the region has contributed
to the spread of HIV. The drugs that so dramatically reduced the death rate
in the USA, Europe and Australia were only available to a small number of
the infected South African population.
In 2004, thanks to the efforts of many NGOs and advocacy organizations, the government
has began to distribute anti-viral drugs. However, this distribution still
does not reach all those infected with HIV/AIDS.
The Quilt has a history of helping bring greater HIV/AIDS awareness to those
who view it by giving a "face" to the thousands who have died. Using
the Quilt as a starting point for discussion helps educate the viewers on prevention
and other issues concerning HIV/AIDS. Representatives from the USA met
with their South African colleagues, discussed successful programs, and future
efforts of The AIDS Memorial Quilt in South Africa.
In 2002, the NAMES Project limited the program it would allow Chapters to undertake. In
order to continue what it saw (and continues to see) as an important undertaking,
IAPI was formally constituted as an independent organization no longer affiliated
with The NAMES Project.
IAPI's mission is to maintain its international initiatives and programming. IAPI
continues to collaborate with South Africa and other countries to share HIV/AIDS
information, experience, and offer technical support. In return, IAPI continues
to show the pandemic to Americans and the world.
There is a great need to develop and maintain sustainable programs to assist
South Africa in their HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, and education efforts. In
that regard, IAPI was invited to share American and European models to help prevention
and education efforts, adjusting them to South African townships and culture,
and assist in their implementation. This collaboration could greatly reduce
efforts of "reinventing the wheel," and allow programs to be created
cost-effectively.
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Goals of The Initiative (from 1999)
(1) Offer technical assistance, fundraising ideas, and share other global
HIV/AIDS programs
(2) Promote commemorative and solidarity Quilt-making in Africa
(3) Organize collaborations with individuals and organizations to bring the
message of compassion, prevention, and education to South Africa
(4) Focus world attention on the spread of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
(5) Educate African-Americans and Africans about HIV/AIDS
These goals continue to guide IAPI's work in South Africa. As
of 2004, IAPI continues its support of the Sizwe Sonke Quilting Project of
South Africa efforts, and is pleased to borrow portions of Quilt to educate
African-Americans at home, and raise funds for the project
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Activities Planned and Completed
Initially, four
displays were proposed for South Africa and all have been completed. IAPI
undertook a major role in all these events which included:
o Aug., 6-7, 1999 University of
Zululand, Empangeni, (No. Natal)
o Dec., 1-8, 1999 World Parliament
of Religions Conference, Cape Town
o Dec., 1-8, 1999 World AIDS Day
multi-township tour outside Cape Town
o July 9-14, 2000 International
AIDS Conference, Durban. South Africa
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While planning the 1999
World AIDS Day tour, IAPI met with a number of school principals and college
professors in the Western Cape. The organization's HIV/AIDS "Quilt
101" School Quilt Program was offered for classroom use in South Africa. IAPI
refined its curriculum-based program taking into account cultural differences,
and included pre- and post-evaluations to assess changes in attitudes. The
pilot program was presented at three area schools. It was fully funded by private
donations, and technical assistance from IAPI.
Since the programs conception, IAPI was brought the Quilt to additional schools
in townships outside Cape Town in collaboration with local school districts
and the Sizwe Sonke Quilting Project of South Africa. American volunteers
are trained in South Africa to present the lesson plans, initiate discussion
with students, and conduct assessment evaluations. In 2001, IAPI's "Quilt
101" School Program was included in the Ministry of Education's "Life
Skills Program" and has become a major HIV/AIDS prevention and education
component for all grades.
The goals of the program are not just an introduction to HIV/AIDS, but include
discussion about compassion and memorials. The pilot program formed teams
with IAPI volunteers, local AIDS educators, a school physiologist, and a person
with AIDS ("PWA") from the local community. A community member disclosing
their HIV or AIDS status to students is very powerful, and helps "break
the silence" about the disease. IAPI continues to work with local
HIV/AIDS organization to engage more PWA in all provinces to travel with the
Quilt and the school program.
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Many organizations including IAPI, Beyond Awareness Campaign, DramAID, and the Sizwe Sonke Quilting Project of South Africa have already assisted in panelmaking workshops throughout South Africa. Giving South African's a tool to help with the grieving and loss of a loved one has shown to be very effective. American organizations and individuals have provided supplies for IAPI's "Threads of Hope". Program to assist in panelmaking efforts. Kits containing quilt-making supplies are distributed free of charge to schools and churches in South Africa. The Program hopes to open more panelmaking workshops in schools, churches, business, NGOs, and other organizations.
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Sistering with South African Schools
In February, 2000. IAPI's school
tour started identifying American schools, businesses and churches wishing
to assist in South Africa. In developing
a long-term strategy, it was necessary to develop ways to have sustainable
prevention and education program in place. One way is to bring Americans
and South Africans together to share their stories, programs, and experiences
in the fight to deal with HIV/AIDS. The proposal of "sistering" or "twinning" with
local schools, businesses, and churches is a way to begin this collaboration. In
return, American organizations have another means to engage African--American
communities that are currently at high risk of infection with this pandemic.
This program continues to be updated each year. Some of the types of partnerships
include:
• School Partnership - Schools in U.S. (K to 12) form a pen-pal "relationship" (email most likely) with a school in South Africa. The program encourages students to share ways in which they have learned about HIV/AIDS and ways in which they can learn from each other.
• Church Partnership - Churches and places of worship experiences with their HIV/AIDS ministry programs, sponsor Quilt panelmaking workshop, and/or begin fellowship information-sharing of HIV/AIDS to their respective denomination in South Africa.
• Business/organization Partnership - IAPI is encouraging any business, organization, AIDS Service or Community Based Organizations (ASO/CBOs), or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who have current or past HIV/AIDS programs, care-giver programs (like buddy programs, food delivery, etc.), advocacy, media, and fundraising models, to share these programs and help develop similar projects in respective communities.
Since sistering
partnerships began in 1999, IAPI is proud to have a number of churches, youth
groups, and other organizations that provide supplies to make panels, offer
skill-building workshops, and continue to send volunteers to assist IAPI's
work in South Africa.
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Introductory Packet for Sistering Program
Those wishing to begin sistering collaborations with a school, church, or organization can create an "introductory packet" to begin the sistering process. Some ways to introduce ones organization are, but are not limited to:
• Prepare a introductory letter describing your organization; its general mission, and client/volunteer population;
• Describe the organization's HIV/AIDS education/prevention, services, and programs;
• Describe additional support activities (activism, volunteering, fundraising, publicity, etc.);
• What the organizations hopes to learn/experience with your prospective partner;
• Ask if there are special needs of the prospective partner;
• Create goals and objectives you wish to achieve;
• Create a way to evaluate your efforts (pre/post evaluation for outcome assessment)
This introduction letter can be included in a Threads of Hope kit created by your members or provided by another organization involved with this IAPI program.
Other ways to help; include:
• Share pictures of students, schools, working groups, etc.
• Personalize how HIV/AIDS has affected you;
• Share what you have learned and what you need to know;
• Join in panelmaking efforts and provide new panel kits for schools;
• Share or create other curriculums and programs;
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For more information
on Sizwe Sonke Quilting Project of South Africa,
click here