God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

03/01/2014 • 2:45 pm Comments Off on Exciting times @ HOPE Cape Town

Exciting times @ HOPE Cape Town

A new year brings new spirit and energy and it is definitely true for HOPE Cape Town. Having now a so-called “back office” in place, the marketing and fundraising efforts are backed up in the true sense of the word from competent staff following up and preparing new strategies for fundraising. A well-known marketing company agreed to look “pro bono” from a professional side on HOPE Cape Towns efforts to showcase it’s work and successes and built up more fundraising power. The whole question of marketing communication is added to the package. So watch the space…

But also conceptional HOPE Cape Town is developing – HOPE to HOME will be the next major project looking after all kids living with the virus and discharged from Tygerberg Children’s Hospital. HOPE Cape Town is answering with this new concept a call from the Children’s Hospital trying to make sure that all follow-up appointments as well as prescribed medication will be adhered to. This is indeed a very important quest to stop drug resistance which shows up in more and more kids being tested positive.

Also the training portfolio started into the new year with new perspectives: 10 of the HOPE Community Health Worker are attending a 2 years program at the University of Cape Town while continuing working in the clinics. One could call it dual training. Besides the ongoing formation and training it will ensure that the community based employees will be able to feed into the nursing profession or related job opportunities. In February HOPE Cape Town could proudly announce that the HOPE Community Health Worker of Goodwood was accepted into the nursing training program.

Blikkiesdorp remains also an important portfolio for HOPE Cape Town. Nutrition students from the Hochschule Niederrhein visit regularly and the next “Health Days” of Rotary International run by the Signal Hill Rotary Club will take place again in this semi-permanent settlement. There are plans to intensify the work of community building in the area – most was and is not possible without the help of our friends from Muenster in Germany.

To keep up with all the news you can either check the “up to date” of the HOPE Cape Town website or “like” them on Facebook , follow them on Twitter @hopecapetown  – be part of the exciting times of HOPE Cape Town and become an ambassador for HOPE and of HOPE for those in need.

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

12/02/2013 • 10:45 am Comments Off on 1.7 million

1.7 million

Death

Death (Photo credit: tanakawho)

The UN report on the situation of HIV and AIDS counts 1.7 million people who have died in 2012 as the result of the pandemic. We hear this figures especially on World AIDS Day and as the number is so big, emotions are normally quiet under control. Being in the situation of having just lost my dad I suddenly realize – not for the first time, but very powerful – what it means, this statistical figure: 1.7 million times a personal tragedy – most times the suffering of having lost somebody very close, very much-loved, surely in those cases very often young people or breadwinner of the family.
When death hits home – statistics suddenly transform into real life stories and every count becomes an emotional story of love and desperation, of the feeling of loss leaving behind those mourning and having to say farewell often to early in life.

Knowing, that early intervention of the Reagan administration would have saved millions of such tragedies show how devastating politics can be towards the individual lives, even thousands of miles away and for decades. And knowing, that Ronald Reagan refused to act because of his religious believe that gay people are not worth the effort shows that even in modern history faith and religion play a vital role in decisions made about life and death of people.

And this story continuous when countries scale down their contribution to the Global AIDS fund, when money for research is scrapped as the economic situation is driven by only financial gain maximization – when wars, weapon trade and the art of killing people is for most countries more important than saving lives. The story continues when religion still contributes to the hate and discrimination and persecution of those living a different lifestyle as the mainstream society.

Advent is time of preparation and reflection for those calling themselves Christians – and maybe it is time to have a hard look at how our action contributes to the well-being of all people not excluding anybody from the unconditional love of God, whom we expect to be born again on Christmas eve. And the higher somebody is in the hierarchy of the church or the political system of a country responsibility grows to act accordingly.

Filed under: Catholic Church, General, HIV and AIDS, Politics and Society, Reflection, Religion and Ethics, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

11/10/2013 • 1:04 am Comments Off on New York, New York

New York, New York

English: Broadway show billboards at the corne...

English: Broadway show billboards at the corner of 7th Avenue and West 47th Street in Times Square in New York City (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Those who had the pleasure of visiting New York say, that the city never sleeps and that New York is not America – somehow like Cape Town is not South Africa.
Being in town and trying to find my way through town – and obviously getting lost between upper Manhattan and some of my destinations – there is always plenty of time to observe people. Amazing how individualistic people are – how mixed – how crazy – how ordinary – how business like – and all in the same metro not even taking notice of each other. How different from Germany or even South Africa, where you can see people glancing at unusual behavior or dressing.
Sitting at a fast food chain near Times Square I observed a family holding hands and praying before starting eating – in full view of others and without any hesitation.
Race seems to be no issue – and how much would I like to see that also in South Africa – as well as the mass transport system of New York, which seems to be orderly chaotic, but at most times functional. Except when there is disruption and you are advised to use other methods of transport, then the poor visitor is lost in transition. 😦

On Monday I will have several meetings, among others with the Fordham University, which is a Catholic institution and a marketing company. I am thrilled to see whether HOPE Cape Town is able to capture the imagination of US Americans in a way which leads to support and partnership. Maybe New York is a good start with its diversity and embrace of a variety of cultures and traditions. To live in such an environment hopefully means to have an open heart and an open mind. Well, lets see what the next days will bring towards more support for HOPE Cape Town. It would be a welcomed addition to all the support and assistance the organization already gets from Europe and South Africa. HOPE Cape Town can only be as strong as the network of supporter and donor is. So cross the fingers that this city which never sleeps has a heart which never stops supporting those in need, even if they live far away in another part of the global village called earth.

Filed under: General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, Networking, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

10/25/2013 • 10:43 am Comments Off on Despite the floods..

Despite the floods..

DSC03264It is amazing and a blessing: despite the experience of severe flooding in and around Dresden in summer this year and all the suffering and destruction going with it – Dresden is gearing up for the 8th HOPE Gala and the Gala is sold out. Wow, I only can say and humbly salute towards all the people of Dresden. They give an example of refusing to concentrate only on their own plight by still continuing to stand to their commitment to do good also for those far away in South Africa as they have done all the years.

The City of Dresden, Saxonia Systems, ParX under the leadership of Viola Klein – they make it happen again and Saturday the red carpet will be rolled out in front of the Schauspielhaus for all attending this event under the umbrella of the HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung. Coming to Dresden feels for me like coming home and it the last years I had the privilege to stay in different marvelous hotels – this year the swissotel in the midst of the old city. Dresden is really worth a travel any time of the year – the world-famous Frauenkirche, the Zwinger and all the museums and historic buildings lovingly restored are making this city a world-class destination.

The HOPE Gala Dresden is the result of the love of two people from Dresden, whose knot for life was bound in Cape Town in the early hours of HOPE Cape Town’s existence. The promise to assist the project developed in seven great events which constitute the major fundraiser for HOPE Cape Town Trust. And so, Dresden provides hope, life and future for so many in the Western Cape – people, who never will know each other are connected and committed to this connection. For me, this is a modern miracle and shows, that the term “Global village” can be filled meaningful for the good of the people.

I am thrilled to watch the artists performing on Saturday eve “pro bono” – I am thrilled to see the happy face of the lucky winner of a great holiday in South Africa inclusive flights and accommodation or being the new owner of a fashion piece, designed by one of the most famous fashion designer. And I am thrilled to fly back to South Africa to tell our people about the generosity of Dresden.  And to be able to continue to work for those less fortune @ the Cape of Good HOPE.

 

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HOPE Cape Town Association, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, HOPE Gala Dresden, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

09/30/2013 • 2:29 pm Comments Off on Interviews

Interviews

HOPE Cape Town has advertised two positions, one of a secretary and one of a resource developer. Tomorrow will be the first round of interviews for those making it to the shortlist. Interviews are not only exciting for those seeking employment or a change of position but also for the prospective employer. It is difficult to pick the right person: Qualification can be measured, but the potential of a candidate and the willingness to fit into an existing team and to add value to it is more difficult to evaluate. Candidates are trying to show their best performance and sometimes I wish to see them performing the worst at such an interview – it would make it easier for me to see the span of performance. 🙂

I am sometimes also amazed about the discrepancy between what a CV promises and what a candidate delivers. An interview showing strength and weakness in an honest way could give a hint about development potential. I am convinced that most jobs are to be conquered by anybody who has an open mind and an open heart and a solid ground of knowledge in the field of expertise. People must like what they doing, they must love to identify themselves with the work they are doing. They should be proud to be part of the company.  Starting a job does not mean to be perfect, but the first day in a new job is the beginning of an exciting development for both, the person and the company or NGO.

And so I hope that this will happen: That we find the right candidate whose work will do HOPE Cape Town proud and HOPE Cape Town does him proud. 31 colleagues are waiting to welcome the lucky one and specially our back office, serving the HOPE Cape Town Trust and the HOPE Cape Town Association will be able to go full speed and deliver on all levels.

Related articles

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, Reflection, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Blog Categories

Follow God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE on WordPress.com

You can share this blog in many ways..

Bookmark and Share

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,711 other subscribers

Translation – Deutsch? Française? Espanol? …

The translation button is located on each single blog page, Copy the text, click the button and paste it for instant translation:
Website Translation Widget

or for the translation of the front page:

* Click for Translation

Copyright

© Rev Fr Stefan Hippler and HIV, AIDS and HOPE.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Rev Fr Stefan Hippler and HIV, AIDS and HOPE with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

This not withstanding the following applies:
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.