Next to HOPE Cape Town Association, HOPE Cape Town Trust and HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung there is another sister NGO called HOPE Cape Town USA.
During the Word Aids Conference in Washington / DC many years ago it became clear, that the HIV prevalence rates in Washington or Dallas within the non-white communities were comparable with those horrific numbers in South Africa.
Same problems, but certainly different situations and different ways to tackle the existing challenges. Rev Fr Stefan Hippler, who attended the conference, brought the stats and situation analysis with back to South Africa. Meetings with the then Head of Social Services in a New Jersey county Mr Joe Kunzmann and a lawyer from Dallas, Mrs Stacie McNulty Greskowiak led to the formation of HOPE Cape Town USA.
The entity was meant to explore synergies between the work in the fields of HIV/AIDS in both countries. Connections were established to local NGO’s and HOPE Cape Town via HOPE Cape Town USA and promising leads developed. The pandemic destroyed most of the plans and HOPE Cape Town is slowly finding its feet again.
In November 2023 the first fund-raiser was held in Ann Arbor / Michigan, where one of the 4 directors now resides. Further steps of local engagement as well as fundraising efforts are in planing.
HOPE Cape Town USA is a recognized NGO in the USA with the ability to issue tax-deductible receipts and the directors are currently:
Chair: Joseph E Kunzmann (Somerville / New Jersey) Treasurer: Somerville / Shirley Kunzmann (New Jersey) Secretary: Stacie McNulty Greskowiak (Michigan) and the two members Auntjuan Wiley aka Mr Community” (Dallas / Texas) and Stefan Hippler (representing HOPE Cape Town Trust South Africa)
Focusing on marketing and fundraising for the organisation HOPE Cape Town in South Africa, I had the pleasure – if it is a pleasure – to travel between three continents this year again, trying to find, reach and convince people in the USA, South Africa and European countries to support our holistic approach.
It is generally not an easy task, but the world is currently so much up-side-down, that the challenges seem to grow every day. It becomes a minefield, not only, because of money being diverted for current affairs but also as ideology, insecurity and anxiety are more than ever factors of life.
Gaza and Israel, it seems that you have to put every word on the golden scale to not offend but toe the line to stand on the right side – whatever that may be. Looking at the human factor without politics, as NGO’s do, is a difficult option as you’re directly under general suspicion of supporting terror.
The war in Ukraine means fundraising for people in a country, in which the leadership without any shame stands with the aggressor and pretends to be neutral.
South Africa’s grey listing and constant corruption on the highest levels are often points of debates with funders. They believe that South Africa has enough resources if and when the elite stops stealing money.
The USA is currently in an epic battle when it comes to democracy and a hotbed for the attempt to mix white superior religion, clearly visible in proclaiming a certain candidate a Godsend. Not to forget, a leader of the House who has direct conversations with God and is not the new Moses. In some states, history is rewritten and books are banned again. Not really an ideal environment to discuss support for people in South Africa.
Generally, Covid and the restrictions seem to have a profound effect on people, who felt that the security and safety their life was build on, was gone in seconds. It shows still today in actions, reactions and behaviour.
Business people in Germany, but generally in Europe, are more than worried about the current economic situation in the country and the direction, they are taken by those politically in charge.
All this impacts the world of fundraising a great deal, it makes it perfectly clear, that depending on donations alone is not sufficient for the long run. NGO’s like companies have to build up and maintain a reserve like any other companies if they want to survive long term and meaningfully.
It also makes it necessary to speak with people face to face – not FaceTime, not zoom or teams. Those can be interim measures to keep contact, but the person encounter is in times like ours the most essential part of fundraising.
The need to navigate between the world of possible funders and the reality of the recipients becomes more tricky as sensitivities and anxieties looking at the future reign high.
All this makes the work of NGOs like HOPE Cape Town even more important, because the victims of all the political, social and economic turbulence are those anyhow at the bottom of society. Those who lost out by birth are loosing again. NGOs are the lifeline to survive and even to grow under these circumstances.
We as NGOs need, besides the normal donation also people who want their support working for years to come. We need people investing in the future of others long-term, and so becoming role models for the next generation they helped to form and sustain.
Not only that, but we need this support to be able to stand firm in our support for human dignity and human rights declared for everybody. There are shifts of proportion happening now when it comes to demography, political influence, economic powers. NGOs are essential in those times, balancing what often is overlooked in daily struggles on the world stage. A reason more to support, sustain and to invest in the non-governmental sphere of society.
Promoting and deepening sustainability is certainly a priority after experiencing the lockdown during Covid-19 and now the ongoing war in Ukraine with all the consequences felt worldwide. In the beginning of the lockdown we felt it: 42 staff members and their jobs, but also necessary programmes, were suddenly at risk.
Being not for gain or profit – it meant no support from government, but more expenses not budgeted for.
HOPE Cape Town has always been well managed and has taken care of every penny. This meant we came out of the crisis in pretty good shape. We had great support to provide children and families in Blikkiesdorp with food. But we also lost donors; companies ceased to exist, and many sponsors quite understandably wanted to wait and see before spending on charity or development.
The question remains: How do we secure the future of our organisation in the long run? How do we guarantee the quality of the work and create reliability? We have discussed this intensively in the Finance Committee and the Executive Committee of the South African HOPE Cape Town Trust. I would like to take you, the reader, with me on this journey in the coming posts and share thoughts and ideas with you.
Perhaps we can enter into a dialogue, and the blog is not a one-way street. I look forward to feedback, ideas, and dialogue. Your input is of great value for us as an organisation.
Almost unnoticed in our times of Covid-19 and the struggle of survival for many South Africans, HOPE Cape Town celebrated its 20th anniversary. The pandemic did not allow for a big celebration, but an hour of reflection and celebration at the Westin Hotel in Cape Town brought so many memories to the forefront.
Started as a small organisation to assist doctors at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital in the battle against HIV and Aids in 2001 nobody could envision that 20 years later a full-fledged entity with currently 40 employees working in 12 different townships, at Tygerberg Academic Health Complex and on our campus in Delft “The Nex – Indawo Yethu” plays an important supportive role for many in the Western Province.
Not envisaged was also the expansion of portfolios from HIV/AIDS to a more comprehensive health care, to Early Childhood Development, Youth, vocational training and entrepreneurial skill’s development; meaning a holistic approach.
All this would not have been possible without the help and assistance of so many crossing the path of HOPE Cape Town in the last 20 years. It would not been possible without the current sponsors, supporters, friends and allies.
And it will not be possible to continue successfully without an expanded HOPE family and a network of supportive friends from all over the world. The current situation in South Africa needs an even more determined service and approach to make development not only possible, but also lasting. Especially, the next generation born now requires a meaningful base and a safe environment to fulfil the dreams of those who fought for the new democratic South Africa. After all the blunder and corruption happening in our days, after all the stealing by the so-called connected hurting the poor and contributing to the collapse of our educational system we require the synergies between honest leaders, civil society and NGO’s to create this space of hope.
In Delft, the blessing ceremony for a safe space campus called “The Nex – Indawo Yethu” has taken place yesterday in the presence of Premier (WP) Alan Winde, Minister for Human Settlement (WP) Tertuis Simmers, Executive Mayor from Cape Town Dan Plato, Consul General of Germany Matthias Hansen, religious leaders and various guests and collaborators.
The Nex – Indawo Yethu is a safe space project of HOPE Cape Town (www.hopecapetown.org) and will holistically offer services: health, social services, early childhood development, youth work, afterschool care, vocational dual training, entrepreneurial skills development training for the people within the greater Delft area. This project is in collaboration with the Western Cape Government, the City of Cape Town, the government of the Free state of Bavaria and other NGO’s and institutions.
The blessings were given by a Catholic priest, an Imam, a Rabbi and a Sangoma. Here are some pictures from this event.
God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE 