Who & where are we?

The HIV and AIDS team falls under the Diocesan Social Responsibility Portfolio. It is one of a number of teams responding to different social issues facing our communities.

From 01 October 2007 the HIV and AIDS ministry has moved into their new offices at No. 215, 2^nd Floor Darragh House, just in front of the Diocesan Offices.

 

Where we are from.

Initially started by the Johannesburg Diocese in the late 1990s for providing an Anglican response to the HIV and AIDS pandemic in small ways. In 2003 was boosted by the Provincial Programme called Isiseko Sokomeleza (Building the foundation) funded for three years by the British Government through Christian Aid. The Province funded Dioceses to start and run HIV and AIDS awareness programmes in all Parishes. A paid Coordinating Position was established since then, and Rev, Tsepo Matubatuba is our third Diocesan HIV and AIDS Coordinator and he works half day from the Cathedral Offices in 13 Wanderers Street, Johannesburg.

 

Recent achievements of our ministry.

1. Trained 30 people, mostly women and some youths, as facilitators/trainers of Churches’ Channels of Hope Programme called "A Christian Response to HIV and AIDS". These ran a road show for 3 months in 2005 to all Parishes of the Diocese to introduce the Team and the Programme.
    
2. Established 4 functional Archdeaconry HIV and AIDS Teams and are continuing to build Teams for all Archdeaconries. The Ministry has been holding quarterly meetings for Diocesan Parish Representatives since the last quarter of 2005. At these meetings, networking, support and information sharing happens.
    
3. Mobilisations workshops have been held last year for around 180 participants from many parishes. Mainly have been residential workshops over a weekend and a few non-resident over two Saturdays.
    
4. Networked extensively with Gauteng Council of Churches, Non-governmental Agencies, other Churches and Religious groups as well as the Health Department at Provincial and Local levels.
    
5. Supported and secured funding for the following Parish projects: Siyophila Orphan and Home Based Care Project in Yeoville, Emndeni Welile Vulnerable Children’s Project of St Matthew (Emndeni) supported by St Martin in the Veld Parish, Mohlakeng Orphaned Children’s Project supported by St John the Divine Parish in Randfontein and the Boitshoko Home Based Care Project in Kagiso.
     
6. Held a successful Clergy Workshop addressed by 4 speakers in November 2005
   and presented and facilitated groups at the Millenium Goals Conference organised by DSRT in July 2006.
    
7. Together with the Diocese of Christ the King hosted a successful 2006 World AIDS Day Commemoration for the Youth which attracted close on 1500 young people. At the Commemoration, had New Start providing voluntary counselling and testing.
    
8. Partnered from December 2005 with New Start, a voluntary counselling and testing organisation, to offer mobile testing services at our Parishes and Projects.
    
   
9. Our Trainers have helped in training for the Anglican Province HIV and AIDS Office and the Gauteng Council of Churches.
    

Future plans.

• Continue to develop effective and active Parish and Archdeaconry teams to
  address the HIV and AIDS challenges in their areas through education, spiritual
  support and needed projects.
   
  
• Build a Diocesan HIV and AIDS Committee composed of all Archdeaconries, so as
  to represent their differing needs and plans.
   
  
• Doing Diocesan fundraising for the needs that are not accommodated by funds
  received from the Provincial Office like, travel, meals, administration and
  communication for Parish team members assisting with the Ministry.
   
  
• Continue to build capacity for our team members through training and networking
  and to mobilise Parishes and communities.
   
  
• Continue the drive for voluntary counselling and testing, as this is very essential for fighting the pandemic.
   
  
• Partnering with Government, Council of Churches, Faith based organisations, Nongovernmental organisations and Community based organisations.
   
  
• Continue networking with the Health Department to seek ways in which Churches
  can help in the TB scare as most is found to be HIV and AIDS related.

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