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December 1, 2005, World AIDS Day

Ndawana

What a week.  It took us 18 months to gather the material and build the community centre in Ndawana.  The opening celebration for the community centre was held on Thursday, December 1, International AIDS Day and in the middle of 16 Days of Protest about Violence against Women.  The theme was “Make Some Noise” about AIDS, poverty, violence, and empowerment of women.

The day went exactly as we hoped.  Perfect weather, about 2,000 people in attendance, lots of food prepared by Ndawana people, and great entertainment, including Holly Wright singing with the Jerusalem Choir from Soweto, including Holly’s song “Make Some Noise.”.  The choir stayed at our house, loved the adulation they got from the village people, and have adopted Ndawana as a fundraising project.  They are a very special group of young people.

My speech, naturally enough, was about empowerment of women, supporting people living with AIDS, stopping the stigma of AIDS, and stopping violence against women.  We view that as the formal beginning of our “community conversation” about these issues.  Even though the team has talked constantly about the issues, and we have been doing counselling and testing and ARV support, we now are moving with those messages into the community at large.  Our current goal is for the chief and all his indunas (elders) to get tested.

Dr. Goqwana, Health Minister for the Eastern Cape Province, came as keynote speaker, along with dignitaries from Johannesburg, Germany (solar power), Umzimkhulu and Underberg.  In his speech, he praised the work we are doing, saying that South Africa has been waiting 100 years for an organization like Edzimkulu to come and work over the long term instead of coming in, throwing money or buildings, and leaving, with the area worse off than before.  As part of 16 days of protest, he announced that Chris would receive an award for her work in healthcare.  He also announced that he was matching the amount we pay to the 14 home-based care women, thereby doubling their stipends.  Finally, he said that they will support our clinic with government money, which has been a major goal in healthcare.  Since we have a similar statement from the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Health, including a promise to fund a fulltime nurse, we seem to have an embarrassment of health riches.

On the following Wednesday, to attend the award ceremony, four Canadians and four Ndawana team members went to East London for the ceremony.  Very long drive (800 km. on not the best roads), arriving at the hotel at 5:30, changing in 20 minutes and getting to the hall at 6:00, where we were shown to one of the best tables in front of the stage.  Mrs. Keswa, District Manager of Health for Umzimkhulu District, joined us at our table for the evening.  This was the annual ceremony to honour people and places providing health services in the province.  There were about 500 people in attendance, and it was a very glitzy affair.

On the table were brochures describing the special awards for people not receiving awards for best nurse, best hospital, best clinic, best paramedic unit, etc.  In the brochure were pictures of the people receiving the special awards, and the biggest picture was of our Edzimkulu team.  The longest write up, likewise, was about Edzimkulu.  A video of the special awards people, shown at the beginning of the evening, included Chris and I being interviewed at Douglas Drift, and it was shown simultaneously on three theatre-sized screens.

Then Dr. Goqwana rose for the keynote speech, which began by describing his visit to Ndawana and how amazed he was, and so on.  At least half of his speech was about the work we are doing, and we were formally introduced to the assembly.

As the evening progressed, many people were called to the stage for the various awards, many pictures were taken, but none of the recipients were asked to speak.  Chris and the other special awardees were last on the program, and they likewise went to the stage, received their awards and sat down.  And then Dr. Goqwana invited Chris to speak.  Her short, heartfelt speech was about how the award really belongs to the people of Ndawana, how it doesn’t matter where we come from or how rich or poor we are; all that matters is what is in our hearts.  She received a standing ovation.  It seems that Ndawana truly is making noise.

The next day we stopped in Lusikisiki, on the way home, to visit an award winning branch (which was written up in National Geographic) of Medicins Sans Frontiers.  Our HIV support group joined us there to observe how the MSF people are working in HIV/AIDS support and in the fight against stigma.  One of our stops was at a meeting on TB prevention.  The MSF people were very supportive of our work, and they have offered to work with us, including exchange visits there and in Ndawana.

What an incredible week; celebrating the opening, being recognized both in Ndawana and in East London for our work, meeting and opening a dialogue with the MSF branch, and the fun of traveling with some of our team.  The opening was the end of the community centre construction, which itself is just the base for the programs, and the programs all are well underway.

Thanks to all of you who have supported us with your time, your money, and your advice and caring.  We are deeply grateful.

We had about 85 people join us for our “Make Some Noise” celebration. It was great fun. It was everything the special events group hoped it would be. We had press from Paul Mennier of City TV, CBC covered the story on their evening news and it is possible that Global picked it up as well.

The DVD created by Tim Senger was the glue that connected the 2 events in Ndawana and Edmonton together as we celebrated ... how delightful to have the now familiar faces of the Ndawana team talk about Dec. 1 and what was happening. My condolences however to the unfortunate pig that walked to the party, only to find out he played a starring role! (*wink*).

We had 3 video cameras here in Edmonton that caught the action of the Edzimkool Kids, the clapping games and wonderful Muru with the African drummers.

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