God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

01/25/2012 • 11:44 pm Comments Off on 8 days to go.. Gott-AIDS-Afrika in English

8 days to go.. Gott-AIDS-Afrika in English

The book, originally published in the German language translated into English here on the blog. While the blog writer will be attending his duties “on sea” and working on a cruise-liner as the chaplain for 4 weeks, the reader here will have the chance to explore in February and March almost all chapters of the book in an English translation. Thanks to the person who has done the dedicated work of bringing German thoughts into an understandable English world of thoughts. Thoughts about the theology of AIDS, episodes of the life of patients and myself, encounters one cannot forget like the “last birthday” of the little Fareed, or “the silent death” of an employee to embarrassed about being HIV positive – small and big drama comes to life and shows the reality of HIV and AIDS in the context of my work as a priest and activist. I am very happy for every comment and feed back on this book, which changed my life quite dramatically.

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, Medical and Research, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

11/18/2011 • 12:19 pm Comments Off on Transitions continue…

Transitions continue…

The transition of HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust continues – HOPE Cape Town Association and HOPE Cape Town Trust have now their own YouTube channel. On the HOPE Cape Town Trust channel you can see the newest HOPE Cape Town clip, but also our first one made in 2003.
But not only that: General clips about HIV/AIDS in Africa, small German Advertising clips – still with the old logo – for German cinemas – the feature “Hoffnung am Kap” of the BR (German TV) is on show. A section will show you in the future the work of the trust and the association but also introduce the trustees (long-term goal) – if you find anything suitable on clips please feel free to contact me so that we can add it.
Prominently featured is also the HOPE Gala in Dresden but I sadly noticed that we don’t have material from the Ball of HOPE in Cape Town.

In the coming weeks the boards of HOPE Cape Town Association and Trust will meet to determine the way and working mechanism of close cooperation – all with the sense of responsiblity to make HOPE Cape Town fit for the future and to guarantee a stable environment of our 28 employees and the more than 300 000 clients we see every year.

The Academic field is also getting momentum and in February, the Kath. Stiftungsfachhochschule Muenchen (University of applied sciences) will visit to agree about closer cooperation. Saying this it is always to emphasis that our core work will remain with those living in the township communities and to support the primary health care system in the Western Cape. With our new director (HOPE Cape Association) there is new ideas and solid structures coming in – she is indeed already now a great asset for the organisation.

November till Mid December is always a hectic time in Cape Town – everything should be done before the big Christmas-Summer-Holiday time, but it is good to have a sense, that at the time, this time of leisure begins, we will have put things in place so that we can look forward to begin working in 2012 with a solid groundwork done in 2011 – ending the first 10 years of HOPE Cape Town in existence. During my trip to Germany I once again realised how much we owe those supporting us and giving us the opportunity to serve the communities.

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, HOPE Gala Dresden, Networking, Reflection, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

10/11/2011 • 10:00 pm Comments Off on BUGA 2011

BUGA 2011

A very exciting day in Koblenz - Germany

AIDS Action Day @ the BUGA (Federal Flower Show) in Koblenz Germany. A great day with lots of info, good music and attentive listeners.

Thanks to the AIDS Hilfe Koblenz, Woodstaudt and the Hildegard von Bingen Schule for their input and support of HOPE Cape Town, but also to make such a day possible.

Also thanks to the administration of the Federal Flower Show to allow such a day and make us all feel welcome and at home during the day.

More information either at your local AIDS Hilfe in Koblenz for local support or at www.hopecapetown.com for info on the work of HOPE Cape Town.

More impressions:

Hildegard von Bingen Schule hands over a cheque to HOPE Cape Town

an informative video to be shown during the day about HOPE Cape Town

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Medical and Research, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, , , , , , , ,

07/04/2011 • 6:30 pm 2

Back in Cape Town…

After one week in Johannesburg back in Cape Town and back to normal work. The transformation of HOPE Cape Town, the relationship between the association and the trust in Germany and South Africa now need attention to detail. After 10 years of work from grass root till research it is time like in any other business to review, to assess and to transform: for an even better service to those marginalised by HIV and AIDS, but also by poverty and all the other challenges of life, which make the latter to a permanent run against all odds…

The next two Sundays I will supply for the German-speaking Catholic Community – it will be good to see all the friendly faces again and to say the mass in my mother tongue. I hardly can believe that it is almost 2 years that I left my post as the German chaplain.  Time is flying.

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

06/17/2011 • 5:18 pm Comments Off on Welcome in Manenberg

Welcome in Manenberg

This afternoon the World AIDS Awareness Expedition was due to have a reception in Manenberg after a Round Table at the German Consulate General. Unfortunately the team did not make it yet till Cape Town, still stuck somewhere between Kinshasa and the border to Angola – so the latest news. The kids of the Amy Biehl Foundation – RC Church afterschool care had prepared for this big event and so the organizers of HOPE Cape Town had decided to go ahead with the programme. Instead of the team it was my task to take the kids to follow the route of the expedition so far and to tell them about my experience with the almost 5 weeks, I joined the team in the Americas. Photos and video clips made the talk an easy to follow one and it was great to see those present feel to be part of a bigger picture, of a closer coming world, of a global village we often forget to realize in all the dramas of daily struggle.
Three team members, awaiting news from the team and supposed to join in Cape Town, almost the whole board of the HOPE Cape Town Association, HOPE Community Health Workers joined the parishioners and kids as well as Fr Wim. For me it was great to see how kids have learned on their instruments since beginning of the year. And the hiphop dancers were really marvellous. Not to forget the catering, so that nobody had to go home hungry. I guess we went home all with the feeling that ‘move the world” also takes place in Manenberg, thanks to many who assist within and outside the community.

Yesterday evening I gave a talk for students of the Duke University at the Mediterranean Villa – interesting to engage with young adults from the US, especially as two of the students are volunteer at our organisation. Once again worlds came together which are normally far away. Also that moves the world in many ways.
So as I write this blog entry, I am deeply moved by what I have seen, heard and encountered the last 24 hours. It is indeed a blessing to be part of bringing worlds together and maybe assist, together with others, to make the world a better place.

And for the expedition we all hope that they find a good way to continue they trip and their very important mission for the world.

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

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