Yesterday, the Ndlovu Care Group set another milestone in its history: The new research facility was officially opened in Elandsdoorn with a grand ceremony.
With this facility, Hugo Tempelman has managed to focus the attention of international scientists on Elandsdoorn, on what is going on there in the province of Limpopo in South Africa. The whole community and the people of the surrounding area are pulling together to help the Ndlovu Care Group in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This is so special because this community has only been formed in the years that Hugo has been working here. Before that, there was no community in the sense that exists today, with central places to live, central places to visit, central issues to address and central problems to tackle together. This community life and the partnership between the locals and the Ndlovu Care Group is the result of years of intensive work on the ground. The local people have experienced what it means to have someone who really cares. Who “does” instead of just “talking”. Who looks instead of looking away. And who takes people’s suffering and fears seriously and offers help. And above all, the Ndlovu Care Group is an organization that does not disappear. It has been around for over 20 years. The organization cares for thousands: The elderly, the sick and anyone who needs help. Struggling people received help that was denied to them elsewhere. Most have recovered and are still part of the community today. The Ndlovu Care Group gives people from the community work and thus a future. The organization takes care of the children. Children who have been left orphaned. The Ndlovu Care Group has built houses for them, in which the children have found a home again. They received medical and social care and help with official documents. Children who were a nobody were embedded in the framework of the child welfare programs, individually supported and educated so that they have the chance to break out of the vicious circle of poverty into which they were born. Some are now adults who contribute to the community, live independently and can provide for themselves. Poverty, crime, prostitution and drugs are no longer the inevitable future of these children. They are supported in leading a self-determined life. In this way, they can give back all the good things they have received. So much has been achieved together:
Wells for the people where there was no water before: Ndlovu has actually opened up 53 water points for the people in this area.
Nutrition facilities where malnourished children receive healthy and sufficient food and families are taught how to grow vegetables.
Preschools where children can be safely accommodated and cared for.
After-school recreation centers – the Ndlovu Chill Hubs – where children can spend time after school, playing sports, games, using computers, reading … where they are safe.
Sports fields for soccer, tennis, volleyball and fitness center.
The people in the community trust the Ndlovu Care Group. And the Ndlovu Care Group does everything it can to support these people. That’s what made yesterday’s celebration so special. Of course, it was about the opening of the research center. But it was much more about celebrating the community. Because all of this only works together, every task that needs to be completed, every decision that needs to be made.
In the new research center, the task of finally defeating HIV and AIDS is now being tackled together. The place has been created, the people are ready. By working with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the Ndlovu Care Group has taken the first step towards turning AIDS from a death sentence into a curable disease. We are happy to be part of this success.
Read more on this topic at:
A new research center in Elandsdoorn for research
A vaccine against HIV – Ndlovu is part of the research
The new Ndlovu Research Center now has an elevator and solar panels
