Anglican Church HIV/AIDS Programme Now Online

On Thursday 10th February, the Anglican Church launches the new website for its HIV/AIDS programme. The website aims to provide a platform for all people who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS across the world to communicate and strengthen each other in the harsh battle against the pandemic.

The HIV/AIDS programme run by the Anglican Church at present is called Isiseko Sokomeleza - "Building a Foundation". It is a partnership between the Church of the Province of Southern Africa and Christian Aid, funded by the British Government's Department for International Development (DFID).

Africa is one of the many countries in the world where HIV/AIDS is very prevalent. The Church of the Province of Southern Africa has long been contributing in HIV/AIDS education and prevention. In April 2003, the programme Isiseko Sokomeleza was launched in a bid to mobilise the church at all levels to join the struggle against HIV & AIDS.

The programme provides monthly funding to each of the 23 Anglican dioceses to support HIV & AIDS co-ordinators across Southern Africa. It also provides additional funding to run projects that support home-based care, orphaned and vulnerable children, voluntary counselling and testing, wellness management, youth and the prevention of the spread of HIV.

The website launched today (Thursday 10th February) contains a wide range of resources. It gives details of all the programmes and projects being carried out to help those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in over 1000 parishes throughout 6 countries. People can come to the site to share this knowledge with one another, so that those who want to start their own projects can be inspired and gain valuable advice.

Consultant, Wendy Lewin, who helped set up the web site, says that the purpose of it is two-fold. It is firstly to introduce what the Anglican Church is doing to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and secondly to support people running the Anglican Church HIV/AIDS projects across Southern Africa.

"The website will be a means of communication for funders and the HIV/AIDS office and also between people who are working on the ground, for whom it will be useful to compare notes and swap stories around their work," she said.

The official launching ceremony of the website was held in Kenilworth, Cape Town, on which the Archbishop of Cape Town the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane gave the welcoming address. A "virtual" launch all over the Church Province of Southern Africa - which includes South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and the Island of St Helena – has taken place at the same time. International "virtual" guests were also present.

In the welcoming address, Archbishop Ndungane said, "You do not have to be an Anglican - you do not even have to be a Christian...we hope this site will help and encourage you, whatever you need."

Archbishop Ndungane emphasised the fundamental motive behind the programme, "We know that God is love. In his love, our Church is committed to offering what help we can, to everyone who struggles with this disease and its consequences."

"As you explore the site, you will find it has a huge range of resources. Whether you are looking for advice on how to make a funding proposal, or ideas for what a small rural church can do, or the best way to run financial management, or what to put in a love pack for babies- it is all here!" he said.

"It is my prayer that this website will become a powerful tool, in helping people all across Southern Africa- indeed, across our Continent- spread good practice and make the most of the opportunities that God gives us," he gave a note of blessings to the opening of the new website.

The Archbishop said after the address, "I am very excited by this project. It harnesses the very best of contemporary technology in ways that can be used even by the poorest of the poor, so that all possible resources can be brought together in the fight against HIV/AIDS."



To take a look at the new HIV/AIDS website, please click here.