February 2016 - Hugo Tempelman Stiftung

Elandsdoorn film “Geliebtes Leben” on ARD on Sunday evening at 11:35 pm

On Sunday evening at 11:35 pm, Erste will be showing the moving and impressive film “Beloved Life” by Oliver Schmitz. This film is set in the municipality of Elandsdoorn, Hugo Tempelman’s main place of work. The leading actress Khomotso Manyaka is the daughter of one of Hugo’s employees and was even brought into the world by him. She was awarded Best Young Actress for her portrayal of Chanda. This was her first acting experience, just as the majority of the cast are amateur actors from the community. This makes it all the more remarkable how emotionally and convincingly they act in this touching human film.
Oliver Schmitz sensitively tells a story about dignity, responsibility and the social fabric. People who have to come to terms with their everyday problems. This story could be set anywhere, with or without AIDS. The movie has a universal message that can easily be transferred to our lives in this other world with other problems, other worries, other cultural and social hurdles. “I saw in it the potential to gain emotional access to the country and its people,” said the director at the Cannes Film Festival. “This is of greater value than any study.”

You can read a very interesting interview with Oliver Schmitz on filmstarts.de.

“Beloved Life” was a surprising sensation at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and represented South Africa in the nomination for the “Foreign” Oscar. The sensitive narrative, in which the nuances, the things not said tell more than what is said, create an atmosphere that casts a spell over the viewer. Deutschlandradio Kultur says: “”Geliebtes Leben” is one of those screen gems that always provide a surprising, astonishing element in the wide range of films on offer. A wonderful movie discovery!”

See for yourself:
“Geliebtes Leben”
February 28, 2016
ARD
11:35 p.m.

Content:
Chanda grows up in Elandsdoorn, a rural township in the South African province. As the best girl in her class, the intelligent twelve-year-old actually has a good chance of escaping her modest circumstances.
However, everything changes when her one-year-old half-sister dies: strange rumors surround the reason for her death. Her stepfather Jonah, an alcoholic and adulterer, blames his wife’s “poisoned milk”. He soon abandons the family.
Now Chanda’s mother Lillian also falls seriously ill. Neighbors and acquaintances, otherwise always helpful and obliging, suddenly avoid contact. A healer is called in. She sends Lillian back to her home village to find the cause of her illness. When no news of her arrives for a long time, Chanta sets off in search of her mother.
She is determined to rebel against the unwritten laws and break a deeply rooted taboo.

Scene from “Beloved Life”: Chanda with her mother Lillian – a very special mother-daughter relationship

At the film presentation: Liesje and Hugo Tempelman with the leading actress Khomotso Manyaka and Dieter Haller, the then German ambassador to South Africa

Standing ovations for Ndlovu’s important contribution to improving the situation of women

At this year’s annual CROI (Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections) conference in Boston, Hugo Tempelman reported on the success of the so-called Ring Study, a research project of the IPM Ndlovu Research Team (International Partnership for Microbicides). This study represents an important scientific achievement in the field of women’s health and can give HIV prevention a whole new face.

Women in South Africa bear the brunt of the AIDS virus and its possible spread. Contraception with condoms is not acceptable for the majority of men, and certainly not in a committed relationship. The Ndlovu Care Group has been aggressively promoting the use of condoms for years. The Ring Study tested a completely new form of contraception. The study investigated whether monthly contraception with a vaginal ring containing the antiretroviral drug dapivirine can safely help to prevent HIV infections in women.

The Ring study is one of two large Phase III studies – the parallel study ASPIRE was conducted by MTN (Microbicide Trials Network). Together, over 4,500 women were tested in a long-term study. The ring study showed that the monthly dapivirine ring reduced HIV infections by a total of 31% (compared to the placebo). ASPIRE achieved similar results: they found an overall 27% reduction in the risk of infection. This is the first time that two Phase III studies have confirmed the statistically significant efficacy of microbicides in preventing HIV.

The results of the study were presented today by Dr. Annalene Nel from IPM and received a standing ovation. These findings are a huge breakthrough in the fight against the AIDS virus. Much has already been done, but much more needs to be done. This is another big step on the long road.

Audiology team in action

2016 began with many missions for the Audiology Team. First of all, Hugo Tempelman received a request from the epilepsy center in Sempumpuru (between Elandsdoorn and Ntwane) on 5 February. The Audiology team was already on site on February 10 and started work. It was a challenge at first, as none of the team had ever worked with people with multiple disabilities before. The team quickly learned the ropes and carried out the hearing screening without any reservations. Clinic staff and patients were delighted with how quickly, easily and warmly they were helped.

Then the annual school examinations started last week. This year, not only the new pupils were examined. Those who were unable to attend last year or who needed a follow-up or check-up were also screened again this year. The introduction of regular school screenings is extremely important. Screening by the Ndlovu Care Group audiology team can only identify any problems. Any treatment that may be necessary must be followed up. This is where the doctors hope to receive support from the school. “We are always ready to visit the local schools. We do our best to make the school screenings a great success,” says Khomotjo Kgare, a member of the Ndlovu Wits Audiology Team. Intervention by the school can ensure that the children receive regular treatment before the hearing problems affect their learning abilities and thus their school performance too much.

Foundation stone laid for the new mini-campus

After the water boreholes on the site of the future mini-campus were successfully completed at the end of January, construction could begin. The mini-campus, which is due to open at the end of July, is being built with the generous support of BILD hilft e. V. “Ein Herz für Kinder”.

The first step was to build a drinking water tap for the community. This is always the first step in all of Hugo Tempelman’s construction projects. Once the people have water, everything else can be tackled.

The foundation stone for the new mini-campus in Bloempoort has already been laid. Hugo Tempelman and his team proudly and confidently present the initial construction progress. The concrete mixer is already pouring the foundation. It is also very important that the workers come from the local community. Hugo Tempelman’s Ndlovu Care Group is therefore not only creating jobs for this place, but also giving people confidence, self-esteem and a future.