Bolata AIDS Project
The Bolata AIDS Project, based in Qwa Qwa, was started by Daniel Sefatsa in 2001. This volunteer youth group focuses on HIV/AIDS education and support for young people living with HIV/AIDS, home-based care, food-gardening, referrals to the Kakaretso ECD network and the monitoring of orphans and vulnerable children.
ASAP has provided funding for members of the Bolata group to attend an accredited course in Basic Permaculture, enabling them to implement resource-efficient agricultural designs to grow organic crops. In addition, ASAP has provided Bolata with a variety of agricultural tools and structures that have enabled them to develop and sustain their food garden in a harsh, dry climate. Their excellent food garden is now providing fresh vegetables to their clients many of whom are youth.
ASAP’s ongoing support of the group includes the funding of emergency food parcels for distribution to orphans and healthcare supplies for their home-based care network. The group are running workshops with information and education on sexually transmitted infections in local schools with condom distribution. Weekly meetings with two support groups for People with AIDS based in clinics helps their patients cope with the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and get encouragement and support with access to Anti-Retroviral treatment.
In their own words…
“We have a mission to empower our community with necessary and useful information in order for them to take necessary pre-cautionary measures in preventing the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. We aim to make the youth aware, and to support and care for the HIV-infected and affected individuals, including the orphans and vulnerable children.”
| 2003 | 2008 | |
| ASAP Grants | R5,800 | R57,720 |
| People Living with AIDs | 16 | 45 |
| No. Of OVC | 0 | 29 |
