God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

07/28/2012 • 4:11 am Comments Off on HOPE Cape Town Association: Job opportunities

HOPE Cape Town Association: Job opportunities

Job Opening: 1 Secretary and 1 Program Coordinator for HOPE Cape Town Association

Post

Team Secretary

Salary

neg depending on experience

Working hours

full-time

40 hour week, no overtime, no additional benefits, 22 leave days p.a.  – standard conditions of employment apply

Working location

HOPE Cape Town Association @ University of Stellenbosch

Requirements
Fluent in English and German (spoken and written), Afrikaans as bonus

Ability to communicate (spoken and written) and integrate information

Strong interpersonal skills, confidence, multicultural experience, team player

Organisational talent

Good IT skills and computer & internet literacy (MS Office)

Ability to work independently and with creativity

Duties:
Basic office admin (phone, fax, email)

Basic staff-related admin (update personnel information, forms, claims etc)

Admin support for senior staff and board

Visitors and volunteers

Starting Date: as soon as possible            

Enquiries:

Kerstin Behlau, 021 938 9930

Please submit your application for the attention of Kerstin Behlau HOPE Cape Town, P. O. Box 19145, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa, Email admin@hopecapetown.com, Tel 021 938 9930, Fax 021 938 6662

Post:

Program Facilitator

 

HOPE Cape Town is a local non-profit organization providing outreach and education on HIV and AIDS in the Western Cape Province. The program of Hope comprises in that connection several projects. The Program Facilitator position is responsible for planning and carrying out these projects.

The incumbent should personify the values and objectives of HOPE Cape Town combining stability and guidance with vision.  The Facilitator works with and reports to the chairperson of the Association and works in close contact with all staff, management, volunteers, consultants, trustees and other bodies associated with HOPE Cape Town.

Position functions include meeting program and development goals, evaluation and having the oversight of the HOPE Cape Town Association programmes.

  • Drafts correspondence, proposals and reports for portfolios and programmes (as required)
  • Assists with Annual Report
  • Liaises with HOPE doctor and HOPE Outreach Facilitator
  • Provides Budget overviews for individual programmes and drafts funding proposals as required
  • Provides evaluation for all HOPE Cape Town related programmes
  • Visits together with the HOPE Outreach facilitator clinics and employees in the fields and ensures proper evaluation
  • Represents HOPE Cape Town at community meetings, networking and fundraising events related to local programmes as may be required
  • Provides evaluation and feedback to the chairperson
  • Participates in the semi-annual medium and long-term planning meetings
  • Has an overall responsibility for the further development of HOPE Cape Town portfolios
  • Attends Senior Staff meeting and HCHW Training sessions as required

Qualifications and Skills

  • Education:  Undergraduate degree (graduate studies preferred)
  • Able to communicate (verbal and written) and integrate information in English, basic German and/or willingness to develop the German language skill, Afrikaans as a bonus
  • Strong interpersonal skills, multicultural experience
  • Operates on the basis of consensus
  • At ease with people of different social backgrounds
  • Background in community and development work with emphasis on HIV and AIDS
  • Professional understanding and exposure to the objectives and management of an NGO
  • Human resource and development experience
  • Available to work flexible hours and travel
  • Successful completion of UNISA HIV and AIDS Counselling Course or equivalent
  • Computer literate
  • Drivers license, personal car, no criminal record

Salary neg depending on skills and working experience

Please submit your application for the attention of Kerstin Behlau, HOPE Cape Town, P. O. Box 19145, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa, Email admin@hopecapetown.com, Tel 021 938 9930, Fax 021 938 6662 (suitable candidates will be invited for an interview)

 

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Reflection, , , , , , , ,

07/26/2012 • 4:52 am Comments Off on A day at the conference..

A day at the conference..

6 am is a good time for a quick email review session before breakfast and bus transfer to the Convention Center downtown.  At 8.40 am the plenary session starts going on till 10.30 am and covering important topics. Today it was the question of prevention under the headline “turning the tide”.  11 am meeting with a group organized by the International AIDS Society for a review of the conference so far and an exchange amongst delegates. After that a brief meeting with a possible partner before heading to the next appointment with a doctor and priest from Hawaii who considers to work in Africa after retirement. What are the conditions for such an idea, what is possible, what is needed?
Further networking and revisiting some of the booths for more information intake before at 6.30 pm the next event starts with Stephen Lewis, the former adviser to Kofi Annan on HIV/AIDS in Africa. As usual he finds clear words on the situation and one wishes for more straight forward talk on the conference.
At 8.45 the bus is bringing us back to the hotel in Arlington.
And after another check on the emails, it is time to sort out everything for tomorrows day. Planing is everything, workshops, talks and networking needs coordination to succeed in having a successful day. But until then some rest is needed…

IAS Research Meeting

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, Medical and Research, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

07/25/2012 • 1:44 am Comments Off on Sometimes it hurts… Another day @ the conference

Sometimes it hurts… Another day @ the conference

Today, the second day of the conference, is my focal point more on HIV and faith-based organizations. So the day starts early with an interview for the Catholic “domradio” in Cologne. Next to networking with people of this field I also read some comments about the conference and one got my attention immediately. It is written by Dr P. B. and published not only on his blog but also on the internet news of kath.net, a more right-wing Catholic news website in the German language.
The headline “what really helps against new infections” got as said my attention and already the first sentence of the article gave the answer: “With the simple approach to live chaste till marriage and then be faithful to the partner within marriage 99% of all risk factors are eliminated”.
Wow, I thought really impressive. And I guess with a similar strategy can we can empty our prisons as everybody has to remain honest and non-violent instead of stealing or murdering someone and the problem is 99% solved. The logic of the article culminates in the argument, that people become infected because they don’t listen to the pope – and mentions Africa and specially Catholic areas on the continent where such prevention work has great success.

Such argumentation makes me speechless, but I was comforted through a podium in the afternoon where a pastor from Malawi told us about his experience in seeing HIV and AIDS as a challenge to come out of our comfort zones church normally provides and to give answers needed ending stigma and discrimination. He also was very critical of certain forms of development aid European or US style: “Africans can think of their own” , so the pastor and the audience underlined it with laughter and applause. An US American pastors wife told us from her experience working in Rwanda and a Thai monk about the great work, he is doing on the level of interfaith. He and his fellow clergyman, monks and imams are also looking for those caring for people living with HIV and AIDS. A humbling experience just to listen how those people gave witness about their calling to get involved in the battle against the pandemic.

This is what we need in our churches, mosques, synagogues and temples: people who believe honestly that HIV and AIDS is a challenge, not only for a personal life, but for the way we believe, we pray, we worship, we see our brothers and sisters. Yes, we need those people in our churches, mosques, synagogues and temples who are not afraid to open up, network beyond the borders of faith and denomination or religion. We need people who are simply not afraid to listen to their calling which overcomes human boundaries and is driven by the unconditional love towards their fellow neighbors.

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

07/23/2012 • 11:38 pm Comments Off on Obamacare, turn the tide and enthusiasm @ AIDS Conference

Obamacare, turn the tide and enthusiasm @ AIDS Conference

Sometimes it is only one speech, one moment in time, and one can feel energized again. Sometimes it is just one speech, one moment in time and all tiredness is gone and one starts to focus again. For me, this moment in time happened this morning at the Plenary Session of the World AIDS Conference. Still tired from the long journey I listened to three keynote speaker which really got my mind going.

Introduced by the Nobel Price Laureate Francoise Barre-Sinoussi from France who was instrumental in discovering the HI virus, the Director of the Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health (USA), Anthony S Fauci gave an overview where we are standing in the moment and why we are close to turning the tide of HIV/AIDS. He caught the attention of the audience in describing how sciences and community approach must go together and laid grounds how all facets of prevention and treatment, outreach and bio-approach can take the next steps in eradicating HIV and giving a whole new generation a chance to grow up without the treat of the pandemic.

Next was Phill Wilson, CEO of the Black AIDS Institute in Washington – black, gay and HIV positive. His charismatic speech described the plight of black Americans – specially also in the Washington area, where the prevalence rate amongst those with dark skin color are as high as in some areas of South Africa. He made it also very clear to the audience what “Obama-care” means for those US Americans without an expensive health insurance. I felt ashamed listening to his very personal stories thinking that the US American Catholic Bishops attacked the new health care system because amongst others family planing is included in Obama’s approach. Was there ever a thought of balancing all the “Catholic question marks” against the benefits for those, whose lives or deaths are depending on this new law?

Next Hillary R Clinton, who delivered a clear message that after 25 years and the last World AIDS Conference held in the USA in San Francisco her country is now more than ever committed to turn the tide and assist in having a next generation without fear of HIV and AIDS. She also declared her very solidarity to Melinda Gates and announced additional funds of her government for family planing but also circumcision and other projects.

All speakers the morning made it clear that the moment has come to combine all efforts to push the syndrome back, to use all tools to reduce the transmission to the magic “zero”. But also all acknowledged that there will be still quite some time till this goal is reached. But until then, those lesser and lesser in number, who get infected in the coming generation, should be able to receive treatment and support without any discrimination or stigmatization. And it was made clear that this means that all involved from community outreach via faith-based organizations till governments to reflect how one deals with those most in danger of contracting HIV: gay people, drug addicts, prostitutes. And the question remained open during the rest of the session as a challenge to all concerned: What does it mean to go into those fields many people feel uncomfortable to speak about? And specially for me as a Catholic priest remains that question: How do we deal with those moral minefields in today’s atmosphere of theology and pastoral care?

A lot to think of for the first day of the conference and the day has not ended yet…

Turning the tide – now..

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, Medical and Research, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

07/20/2012 • 8:52 pm Comments Off on On my way to Washington

On my way to Washington

Since a long time the a major AIDS conference will take place in the USA again. Not that the Americans pulled out of the dealing with HIV, but their restrictive policy in making it difficult or impossible to welcome people living with the virus made the country unsuitable for any AIDS related conference in the last years. It shows that God’s nation on earth needed quite some time to understand how stupid and contra-productive it was to challenge HIV and AIDS with useless immigration laws. And this does not only counts for immigration. It becomes clearer and clearer that legal measures often are unjustified and hamper the efforts to combat the disease or turn around the tide. Let’s hope that during or in the aftermath of the conference more countries realise that they increase the risk of HIV instead of bringing it down when taking so-called preventative legal measures or trying to root out HIV with the penal code.  Only when people are able to receive a test result without the fear of discrimination, not only from fellow neighbors but also from states and countries, when they are allowed to enjoy the same freedom of travel like everybody else we will be a step closer to turning the tight of the pandemic. Let’s work hard to achieve this goal and start today.

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, Medical and Research, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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