Nkosi's Haven
Nkosi's Haven is an NGO in the Johannesburg, South Africa area that offers residential, holistic care and support for mothers and their children whose lives have been impacted by HIV/AIDS.
[1] It aims to improve the productivity of their residents through providing access to medical care, therapy, education and skill building workshops.
The goal is to empower residents while providing a safe, dignified home in hopes that all mothers and children are able to become responsible and contributing members of society.
"[5] Nkosi's Haven has built a home in which residents can live free from prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS and children can grow into self-sufficient and responsible members of society.
His fight with HIV birthed his dream to raise awareness and erase the stigma of HIV/AIDS through communal, supportive environments and care centres.
[10] Nkosi was given a hero's burial memorial service in Johannesburg with thousands of attendees paying their respects to the late activist.
[citation needed] South Africa has had high rates of HIV/AIDS diagnoses for years, with approximately 6.19 million accounted individuals living with HIV/AIDS in 2015.
[14] Thereafter, antiretroviral treatment was administered and easily accessible, changing the patterns of HIV/AIDS and extending the lifespan of many South Africans who would have otherwise died at an earlier age.
[14] UNAIDS reports that approximately 2.1 million children in South Africa are orphans due to HIV/AIDS related illnesses, with 180,000 deaths occurring in the year of 2015.
Responsibility for children growing up in South African society has been increasingly separate from biological parenthood due to the lack of parental care available.
[17]The house was located on 23 Mitchell street and consisted of four bedrooms, one bathroom upstairs and one downstairs, a lounge, a room used as a dormitory, and a courtyard.
[17] The results of the kitchen tea were successful and Gail managed to fundraise R45,000 worth of furniture and equipment, free electrical services, along with appliances valued at R30,000 for the nursery and dormitory.
[17] After three years in operation, Nkosi's Haven saw need for a second home as the Berea residence was rapidly expanding with mothers and children living with HIV/AIDS and orphans.
[2] Due to financial restraints, in 2012, the NGO sold its property in Berea and moved all occupants to Nkosi's Haven Village in Alan Manor, South of Johannesburg.
[19] Costs for operating the Berea house were as much as R150,000 to R180,000 monthly, and because all occupants could be accommodated at the village, consolidating all residents meant that no one was left without a home or unemployed.
[20] Although the project received backlash from neighbouring communities, key sponsors made the initiative possible and enabled Nkosi's Haven to host up to 180 residents at a time.
[citation needed] In 2010, Nkosi's Haven received a bakery donation from the South African Whole Grain Bread Project (SAGWBP).
[5] A leisure room was built at Nkosi's Haven Village to further meet the requirements to become a Child Care Centre in South Africa.
[20] Nkosi's Haven Library provides a space for resident children to do their homework, leisurely reading, art sessions and workshops.
Due to limited space and resources, Nkosi's Haven relies on the help of volunteers to teach music and arts lessons onsite.
[citation needed] In 2006, Nkosi's Haven Village completed the Sickbay, consisting of a nine-bed unit, qualified nursing staff, and family physicians to help care for HIV positive residents.
These areas offer skill-building workshops on a regular basis for residents to learn various skills such as knitting, pottery, resume writing, and more.
The room comes equipped with computer monitors valued at R100,000 which allows the youth at Nkosi's Haven to videoconference and chat with their mentors and friends worldwide.
[25][26] Within the next 5 years of full operation, Nkosi's Haven 4LIFE farm aims to implement a self-sustaining style of living in which mothers living with HIV/AIDS and their children from a neighbouring township and the surrounding area will assist in growing organic food to serve themselves, Nkosi's Haven's residents, and the local markets and supermarkets.
[25] Nkosi's Haven has begun construction on the premises to begin early interventions of child development, skill transfer and various forms of therapy.
Nkosi's Haven plans to hire certified teachers in addition to training resident mothers to assist at the preschool, also building their skills and capacity.
