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October 07, 2002
US-Based AIDS Relief Foundation Establishes Operation
in South Africa
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7 October 2002
US-BASED AIDS RELIEF FOUNDATION ESTABLISHES OPERATION
IN SOUTH AFRICA
On September 11, 2002, Marlene Boswell, Vice-President
for Corporate Development for the United States-based
AIDS Relief Foundation (ARF) departed Seattle to begin
a new life in Cape Town - arriving on none less than
Friday the 13th.
The next date that Boswell is working towards is
1st December - World AIDS Day - when the ARF officially
kicks off its operations in South Africa.
AIDS relief is certainly not a new concept - least
of all to Africa. What's new, though, is that the
ARF is a dream come true for the non-profit organisation's
founders - all Information Technology (IT) professionals
from around the world who have chosen to devote their
passion and expertise to the worldwide HIV/Aids issue.
Boswell however cautions: "ARF makes no claim to
miracle cures - instead we offer a model for investment
into the South African readiness and we can clearly
demonstrate the positive impact that IT can have on
economic growth and sustainable development to communities
- in particular impoverished rural communities."
Pivotal to ARF's success is the implementation of
Community Teaching & Learning Centres (CTLC) as the
system of delivery.
CTLC's are strategically placed within communities
to serve as practical local outreach centres and provide
as gathering places for life-long learning and practical,
sustainable community development which is entirely
staffed by locals.
A strategic partner with ARF is Teachers Without
Borders, who provides suitably sustainable programs
for the CTLC's. As a centre embraced by the community,
several sustainable programs emerge in terms of ongoing
HIV/AIDS awareness programs, for one, as well as teacher
training and community education, small business entrepreneurship,
local programs for local needs, health clinics and
emergency preparedness centres.
"Again, this is a US-based organisation that recognises
the diversity of the regions and shapes local programs
in line with local needs," Boswell explains.
Says Joy Tang, founder and CEO of ARF, "the AIDS
Relief Foundation is not about hand-outs - we're in
fact aiming for life-long learning and practical,
sustainable development that is driven by the communities."
Importantly, through the use of technology within
the CTLC's, current existing educational programs
can be brought into communities that would otherwise
have no access, such as the popular television shows
Takalani Sesame and Soul City.
The AIDS Relief Foundation has been classified as
a "New World NGO." The United Nations has identified
NGO's as enablers of capacity, provided that they
have, as core values, the benefits of their constituencies
at heart. New World NGO's are an emerging breed of
organisation that can expand their reach through the
use of technology without sacrificing their human
touch.
Boswell explains: "New World NGO's represent an emerging
and ever-growing breed of organisation that is able
to expand its reach through the use of technology
without sacrificing the human touch. In the case of
the ARF, we favour a bottom-up approach and minimize
wieldy administrative tasks and bureaucracy ("Think-Tanks"),
preferring to focus on field work and simply get on
with the job at hand ("Do-Tank".)"
Boswell goes on to explain that New World NGO's are
by their nature flexible, well-educated, accepted
by the local communities, transparent and accountable
- and therefore highly effective.
Linked to ARF's initiatives planned for South Africa
is Digital Development South Africa (DDSA), which
calls for the attention, participation and investment
from South Africans and for South Africans.
A key tenet of the AIDS Relief Foundation's structure
is participation from all spheres, including communities
and community leaders, educational institutions, and
corporate and government investment, to name a few
.
Related to the DDSA initiative, ARF is currently
seeking advice and ideas so as to ensure the quality
and integrity of these programs within South Africa.
The ARF is in the process of assembling the DDSA Advisory
Board. Those interested in participating on the DDSA
Advisory Board should contact Boswell directly.
"ARF is clearly not just a Cape Town initiative,
or a South African initiative, for that matter - it's
in fact a world-wide initiative," says Boswell. "We
have chosen to begin our operations in South Africa
based on the demonstrated local readiness." Similar
projects are currently underway in Nigeria and Ghana
and have been successfully implemented in India and
Israel.
"ARF is in this for the long-haul - South Africa
is my new home and I, for one, take this matter very
seriously."
AIDS FACTS:
According to statistics mentioned in the US-based
Population Reference Bureau's (PRB) 2002 World Population
Data Sheet, South Africa has more people infected
with HIV/Aids than any other country in the world
- an estimated five million citizens here are living
with HIV/Aids.
What is more, South Africa shares the dubious honour
of being one of only three African countries in which
more people are dying than being born. According to
PRB projections, by 2050 South Africa's population
will have shrunk by 25 percent by 2050.
Further information on AIDS Relief Foundation initiatives
can be found at the website www.arf.co.za. (currently
under re-construction) or by contacting Joy Tang at
[email protected].
Issued by Greta Wilson Publicity & Events
TBWA Hunt Lascaris Building
37 Buitenkant Street - Loft 302
Cape Town
8001
South Africa
On behalf of AIDS Relief Foundation
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