Denmark helps Rural Communities in South Africa fight against HIV/AIDS
HIV still poses a serious threat to the development of poor communities in South Africa. The Royal Danish Embassy signed a contract with the grass-root NGO ‘TransCape’ for a two year extensive HIV prevention and care program in the rural Eastern Cape.
TransCape is committed to working with local communities to support the development of local solutions to halting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A strong involvement of the stakeholders has proven to be a prerequisite for a community to combat HIV/AIDS.
In order for communities to successfully manage the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, medical efforts must also be accompanied by broader social and economic development initiatives. It is the Embassy’s
The project will provide a framework for fighting HIV that can be applicable to other poor communities.
Contact person: Josefine K. Larsen
Denmark assists in fighting Diabetes – one of the big killers in South Africa
There is an explosion of diabetes worldwide and emerging economies like South Africa are the worst hit. Diabetes is a silent killer as people are often unaware of the disease.
Diabetes can be controlled, but uncontrolled diabetes can lead to dreaded health complications. Exercise and a Healthy Lifestyle are essential components in the management of type 1 and 2 diabetes The Royal Danish Embassy signed a contract with Diabetes South Africa and Daveyton Environmental Youth Counsel on a programme that will integrate Diabetes Education and Awareness into school’s activities and lunch practices as well as educating the wider community on prevention, management/control and treatment of diabetes.
The programme furthermore aims to increase children’s participation in sports activities to promote healthy living and to create general awareness in communities and clinics about healthy nutrition.
As South Africa is hosting the Football World Cup this year, specific attention is paid to active living through football. Project activities will be implemented in the poor area of Ekurhuleni Municipality.
Denmark works with the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre
Social justice still need to be brokered in South Africa – By help of Danish support the Desmond Tutu peace centre will give a voice to those who are marginalised; and assimilate knowledge on the causes of conflict and challenges facing leaders.
The Peace Centre is set to be a landmark institution with the aim to be a global Indaba for peace. Traditionally an Indaba is a gathering where a community canvasses different views and pools its collective wisdom in order to find a solution to an issue that affects everyone. The Centre will be the home of outreach programmes aimed to promote peace, nurture tolerance and understanding amongst young people, empowering them to shape their future.
These activities, and the ethos of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, are guided by the legacy of its namesake, whose contribution to a peaceful democracy in South Africa and willingness to challenge expediency and hypocrisy are indelibly marked on history. The programmes and services the Peace Centre offers aim to educate and inspire humanity on what is required from all of us to foster peace. In achieving this, the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre hopes to become an invaluable asset to South Africa, the African continent and the world.
