Every story, every way walked, needs a motivation. This video clip tells the story of such a motivation for the organisation HOPE Cape Town in South Africa.
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)
Next to HOPE Cape Town Trust and HOPE Cape Town Association in South Africa, you might have heard about “HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung”.
This sounds very German, and indeed it is an organisation based in Germany. Since a long time the German Aids Foundation, the only national foundation in Germany addressing HIV, is a partner of the HOPE Cape Town Trust in South Africa. A partner in terms of content and strategy, but also a sponsor for certain work portfolios within the South African organisations.
In 2007 both entities decided that it would be good to create what is called in Germany “abhängige Stiftung”, translated: dependent foundation. It describes a foundation whose administration and oversight lies with a full-fledged German foundation. It has its own reporting and accountability, but remains in this case in the framework of the German Aids Foundation in Germany.
The dependent foundation fundraises for the work in South Africa; it took over the legal responsibility for the HOPE Gala in Dresden. A management team, consisting of representatives of the German Aids Foundation and HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, is overseeing its business. All funds received are transferred without deduction to the HOPE Cape Town Trust in South Africa.
HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung has all necessary credentials in Germany as an NGO and NPO and is an essential tool to foster relationship with the big donor base and circle of friends of HOPE in Germany.
The biggest fundraising event is the HOPE Gala in Dresden, launched in 2006 by Mrs Viola Klein, who is also the Chairperson of the management board of the German entity.
HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung is called a sister organisation of the two HOPE Cape Town entities in South Africa. Besides the financial relationship, there is an emphasis on knowledge transfer in both directions.
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.
God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE 