September 2016 - Hugo Tempelman Stiftung

The new DREAM study

In August, the Ndlovu Research Center kicked off a new study: the DREAM study. DREAM means: Dapivirine Ring Extended Access and Monitoring.

As the name suggests, this is a follow-up study to the ring study that produced such remarkable results earlier this year. This study was able to prove that the use of the Dapivirine ring not only protects against pregnancy, but can also significantly reduce the risk of HIV infection. In the DREAM study, the long-term effect of the ring application is now to be observed and documented. The research team was able to recruit volunteers on the very first day. The willingness to take part in such studies, to use the medication regularly and to report on their experiences is largely due to the trust that the Ndlovu team enjoys among the population. People know that they will be treated with respect here and that they will be treated responsibly.

At this year’s IPM Annual Meeting in Capetown, which took place from September 23 to 27, the team and its achievements were given special recognition. At this conference, special awards were presented to the various research institutions. The Ndlovu team was recognized for its social commitment, which is particularly reflected in the wonderful events that take place regularly, but also in the excellent involvement of the male partners of the ring study participants.

The participants in the ring study were already informed about the DREAM study in July and had the opportunity to discuss their problems and expectations of the follow-up study in a round table. At the kick-off in August, these fears and concerns were then addressed and solutions and advice offered.

The DREAM team is currently touring schools and youth centers to bring the topic of the Ring Study and the follow-up study closer to young women and men. Pregnancy prevention and HIV prevention are topics that require attention from young people. The Ndlovu team has built up a really trusting relationship with the young people in the area.

The DREAM study is established under an African proverb: “If we want to be fast, we go alone. If we want to go far, we go together.” True to this motto, we are keeping our fingers crossed that as many people as possible will join this new study.

13669077_1076924282386817_6462025816817273813_n — Preparations for the kickoff of the DREAM study

13782203_1076924245720154_2875395111130110196_n — Everyone in the team is highly motivated and committed.

14449012_1148855821860329_25168436046333449_n — Members of the Ndlovu team educate young people about the Ring Study and the DREAM Study.

14492422_1148855938526984_7189885250257673604_n — The interest is enormous, as pregnancy and HIV prevention are particularly important issues for young people.

14519871_1146775788734999_3959572786004995166_n — The team at the IPM meeting in Capetown.

14520386_1146775978734980_426490934097809974_n — The Ndlovu team was recognized for its outstanding social commitment.

The bright colors of the rainbow nation

This year, Heritage Day will once again be celebrated throughout South Africa on September 24. On this day, all South Africans are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their traditions and beliefs. Just like last year, Ndlovu employees celebrate this holiday in beautiful, traditional costumes, which caused excitement among everyone. This is also what gave this day its name: “Rainbow Nation Day”. South Africans use it to show that the colorful diversity of beliefs, origins and traditions have a place for everyone in this country.

ENERGETIX – generous help ensures continued support for the children of Elandsdoorn

Social commitment is now part and parcel of the business world. Almost every company is involved in charitable work. Unfortunately, some assistance is often only provided for a limited period of time, whereas in many needy areas, continuous support is indispensable and bears fruit.

Against this background, we, the Hugo Tempelman Foundation, Liesje and Hugo Tempelman and the Ndlovu Care Group are incredibly happy and proud to have a reliable and constant partner at our side who has recognized that helping people to help themselves cannot be achieved with a one-off donation. The company ENERGETIX has been supporting our work continuously for 9 years now and this has resulted in so many great successes.

Hugo’s major goal of creating the first AIDS-free generation in rural African areas still seemed utopian years ago. The financial help from ENERGETIX made it possible to run a mother and child clinic here in the middle of nowhere, where HIV-infected mothers are able to give birth to HIV-negative babies. Of course, this can only be made possible through early drug treatment and constant observation and treatment. Medication is expensive – all the goodwill, all the support, all the moral support does not help if there are not also people who are prepared to give up their own wealth. We are particularly grateful to ENERGETIX, which has already invested more than 1 million euros in Hugo Tempelman’s work over the years. This is another reason why the measurable, real success of his work on the ground is possible. 99% of babies born to HIV-infected mothers have been born without the threatening virus during this time. It is important to remember that it is human lives that are being saved here. After 20 years of research and work in this field, Hugo Tempelman’s method was included in the South African government’s health protocol and thus defined as the standard in South Africa.

Now is the time to focus on other necessary areas. Now it is possible to bring healthy life into the world, now it must be ensured that it is also worth living. How many children live in circumstances that we cannot even imagine here? That having their own toilet – an outhouse behind the house – is a luxury achievement that the whole village comes to marvel at (see A proper toilet for Grandma Gogo). That healthy children still have sick parents whose living conditions do not allow them a long life. That children become orphans and impoverished because they are too young to deal with bureaucratic procedures, to work, to earn money (see When life seems predetermined … ). This spiral spirals downwards endlessly. This is where it is important to take action, not to let up on initiative, financial support and, above all, interest. To look at the problems and not look away and consider the job done.

We can see the personal commitment of ENERGETIX’s many sales partners from the clicks and likes on our Facebook account. We appreciate every comment and the diligent following of the news from South Africa. Roland Förster, the managing owner, takes an active interest in all developments and has already been on site with us several times to see for himself.

cheque_handover_small002_da — Barbara Schöneberger once again hosted the ENERGETIX jewelry presentation this year.

cheque_handover_small026_da — Clemens Schick, Liesje Tempelman, Vivi Eickelberg, Roland Förster and Barbara Schöneberger handing over the cheque

For this year’s jewelry presentation/catalog launch – at which the company once again presented a generous check for Hugo’s other projects – we edited a pre-release version of our current documentary with our ambassador, actor Clemens Schick. We were on location in Elandsdoorn this summer for this documentary, the long version of which will be shown on television. The film shows which projects the support from ENERGETIX will be used for in the future. The documentary portrays what is important in Hugo Tempelman’s work – the people!

Young people – the future of the country: None of this is necessarily in our hands, but we want to help move everything forward a little. The contribution of large companies and all their employees is essential for us. The aim of our work is to help these people, who have so much less than we do, to lead a self-determined life worth living, and we are grateful for the support ENERGETIX provides in this regard.