Overview
A short introduction to HOPE Cape Town
HOPE Cape Town is a non-profit organisation providing outreach, education and counselling at the community level, focusing on HIV/AIDS and TB in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. HOPE Cape Town is co-located and associated with the Ithemba (Hope) Infectious Paediatric Ward at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town and is linked to the University of Stellenbosch. HOPE Cape Town cooperates with “KID-CRU”, the Tygerberg Hospital research unit for paediatric infectious diseases.
History
HOPE Cape Town was founded in 2001 and supports activities through fundraising with individuals, organisations and foreign governments both in South Africa and abroad. Strong, enduring partnerships are the mainstay of HOPE Cape Town operations. HOPE Cape Town was instrumental in the development of the HIV and AIDS framework in the formal partnership between Bavaria and the Western Cape Province. In order to employ the HOPE Cape Town Community Health Workers, the association requires a three year commitment from donors. During this time, the HOPE Cape Town Community Health Care Worker receives distance diploma training from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and structured hands-on experience within the local clinic and at Tygerberg Hospital.
HOPE Community Health Workers
The HOPE Community Health Worker is the core of HOPE Cape Town. The HOPE Health Care Worker lives in the community where she or he works and is chosen for their people skills, maturity, energy and commitment. Formal medical backgrounds are not required. With the explicit cooperation of Provincial and Municipal Health authorities and clinic staff, the HOPE Health Care Workers are trained to provide HIV, AIDS and TB counselling and to support the treatment regimens and health concerns of clinic patients. The HOPE Health Care worker also assists and with home visits, food parcels, sourcing welfare and support services, advice or on-going interest. In the chronically under-staffed clinics, the HOPE Health Care Workers are dependable and responsible members of the clinic team. Within their communities, HOPE Health Care Workers are a neutral independent resource. HOPE Cape Town currently employs twenty three Health Care Workers, each with a three-year sponsorship. The Health Care Workers are currently working in 18 clinics located around Cape Town, Paarl, Grabouw and Hermanus.
Community Involvement
In 2003, HOPE Cape Town took the singular initiative to include traditional healers (Sangomas) in the HOPE Cape Town program, in the belief that all levels of community leadership and expertise are essential to successful HIV, AIDS and TB outreach. Within the trial communities, the HOPE Health Care Worker and the Sangoma liaise to provide coordinated services to clients exploring traditional options and clinic treatment. In addition, HOPE Cape Town offers short-term HIV and AIDS awareness training to local organisations and businesses.
Budget
HOPE Cape Town believes in the investment in people and does not build or advertise, preferring to integrate into current systems making use of existing resources and programs. The major annual fundraising event is the Cape Town “Ball of HOPE” and the "HOPE GALA DRESDEN". In 2006 HOPE Cape Town launched a trust fund to ensure the association will be maintained on a long-term basis.
Academics
HOPE Cape Town is associated with the University of Stellenbosch, Health Sciences. Further cooperation partners are the Hochschule Niederrhein, the Technical University Munich, InWent, Missionsaerztliches Institut Wuerzburg as well as different universities for short and medium term projects. HOPE Cape Town also provides an elective student programme for medical students.
© 2000 - 2011
HOPE Cape Town Association
Public Benefit Organisation (SA) No 18/11/13/4709
Non Profit Organisation (SA) No 031-599NPO