God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

11/13/2024 • 9:10 am Comments Off on Opportunities Amid Global Challenges

Opportunities Amid Global Challenges

The world is changing rapidly; not only in technology, but those who say world developments follow a sinus curve will notice that after years embracing a global world we suddenly are confronted with narrow-minded political leaders, partly drifting into the right-wing fascistic corner. USA, Israel, Hungary are certainly frontrunner in this game. This adds another layer to the anyhow complicated world where more and more people seemingly are marred by anxiety and fear in terms of their future. Fearful people love easy answers where the circle closes and populists win and start doing damage.

This sounds pretty negative but looking at the situation and giving up would defy the purpose of this blog entry. It’s the opposite: Times of transformation and hardship, times of challenges and outright human craziness, are times for opportunities.

The opportunity to see the situation and the world as is in reality – not as I wish for. The opportunity to see where systems are not coping any more and structures crumble under the new challenges. It is also the time when people rise to the occasion one would have never imagined they would do.

And it is the time for NGO’s to close ranks and to create synergies, carrying those who normally are loser in such transitions through those times.
NGO’s can keep humanity and common sense alive while politics spins out of control. They are the pointing finger that at the end, it’s about people and humanity, and not about power for some either connected or rich wannabe leaders.

NGO’s working globally together will keep the vision of human rights and human dignity alive. And those supporting the work done are contributing to this important work – especially in times like ours. And here we are at another important truth: NGO work needs support – needs the support of people but also from the economic sector. Another important synergy between the non-profit world and companies will be essential. It will be their cooperation on many levels which will at the end also shape the world.

So no, there is no time for giving up nor letting some self-absorbed and self-styled populists or the current anxiety of people and societies overcome the efforts of remaining open to life, open to dignity and humanity for all. Including the care for the environment, which can only be done as a global effort.

Filed under: Africa, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, HOPE Cape Town USA, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, South Africa, The Nex - Indawo Yethu, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

06/11/2024 • 10:39 am Comments Off on Explainer: HOPE Cape Town – why visitors are welcome

Explainer: HOPE Cape Town – why visitors are welcome

Township Tours are in demand when it comes to the tourism industry in South Africa – but obviously there are also voices against the township tourism equalling it with a zoo visit and feeling ashamed of the unhinged curiosity some tourists display while being on such a visit.

HOPE Cape Town has always understood that visitors are part of the mission statement. We are not only walking with people in South Africa, but we are also trying to bridge the gap in allowing tourists and visitors to walk with us for some hours. In doing so, we believe we can add value to the experience on both sides – allowing an encounter which enriches all participating.

We don’t have a kiddie’s choir, nor there are flowers to hand over. There are stories to tell, people to meet and to witness a world, often so far apart from the place visitors are coming from. There are days with lots of activities and days when the path is slow and unexciting. Whatever it is – that’s the reality we have to offer.

In a world, which especially in Europe thrives on fortifying borders and seeing migrants as a threat, it is essential to create understanding for realities and the real picture often lost in transition in the news. We have therefore to create spaces of social impact, social encounters and social understanding. We have to create spaces for humanity, but also allowing to witness developments in environmental questions which will shape the future of the world. A melting pot of experiences of different kinds – a bridging facility – a point of reference reminding us of the most important things in life.

HOPE Cape Town wants to shape this aspect of work in the near future – watch the space to learn more about ‘bringing worlds together’.

Filed under: Africa, HOPE Cape Town Trust, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, South Africa, The Nex - Indawo Yethu, , , , , , , , , , ,

02/22/2024 • 1:25 pm Comments Off on Explainer: HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung

Explainer: HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung

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.

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

02/11/2024 • 8:32 am Comments Off on Explainer: HOPE Cape Town Trust or HOPE Cape Town Association?

Explainer: HOPE Cape Town Trust or HOPE Cape Town Association?

People can be confused when dealing with HOPE Cape Town. It seems to be one organisation, but there are different additions to “HOPE Cape Town”: either Trust or Association. “What’s the difference?” they ask often.

When HOPE Cape Town was founded in 2001, an Association was created and named: HOPE (hiv outreach program & education) Cape Town Association. In the years to follow, the Association grew from a 1 employee organisation with a small board into a more sizable entity.

In 2006 the Board decided after long and intense discussions: There is a need for oversight. The HOPE Cape Town Association should in future be functioning as the working horse. The HOPE Cape Town Trust was founded as an oversight entity, looking after the financials and overseeing the marketing/fundraising part of the organisation. The trustees generally don’t get involved in operational questions, but assist from time to time in a very limited and clearly defined role.

The HOPE Cape Town Trust also became the face of the organisations for all marketing/fundraising related activities.

Once a year, the HOPE Cape Town Association presents the budget to the Board of Trustees, which in turn exams and gives approval to the projected spending.

Both entities, Trust and Association, are each a NPO and a PBO in their own right with all the necessary credentials in South Africa. Both entities have a board – the Association’s board is called the “Board of Expertise”, being exactly this: experts in the various fields of work. The chairperson of the Association is ‘ex officio’ part of the Board of Trustees with voting rights and vice verse.

While the Board of Trustees meets formally twice a year, the Board of Expertise meets quarterly to conduct business.

More info: www.hopecapetown.org

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

12/15/2023 • 9:14 am Comments Off on Struggle of fundraising in our times…

Struggle of fundraising in our times…

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.

www.hopecapetown.org

Filed under: Africa, HOPE Cape Town Trust, HOPE Cape Town USA, HOPE Gala Dresden, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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