The Khuphuka
Project
Quarterly Update
January – February – March 2010
The Khuphuka Project is an initiative of Dharmagiri Outreach (www.dharmagiri-outreach.org). Its mission is to support and empower those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS using dynamic, innovative and compassionate responses. These responses include the delivery of high quality home based care, information and advocacy, youth services, child protection and HIV and AIDS awareness and education programmes. Further information on the Project can be obtained at www.khuphuka.org
Khuphuka Project Strategic Plan 2010-2012
Our strategic plan has been published which sets out the Project vision, mission and strategic priorities for the next three years. It also sets out our five programme areas – Community Care, Child Support, Information and Advocacy, Youth Awareness and Empowerment, Capacity Building and Organisational Development. A copy is available on our website at www.khuphuka.org
Khuphuka becomes an NPO
In March the Khuphuka Project became formally registered as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) with the Department of Social Development (NPO number: 077-880). The primary purpose of this registration process is to set and maintain adequate standards of governance, accountability and transparency. As part of registering to be an NPO the Khuphuka Project must report annually to the Department of Social Development. It also means that Khuphuka can now register for various tax incentives. More information on NPO is available on www.dsd.gov.za
Staff Changes and Capacity Building
In February the Khuphuka Project recruited a Programmes Manager Mr. Skhumbuzo Milbeni who was formerly our Youth Worker. He will have responsibility for overseeing the information and advocacy programme, child support programme and youth awareness and empowerment programme. We also recruited a new Youth Worker Vincent Dinangwe who was formerly a Community Care Worker with Khuphuka.
Our Programmes Manager Skhumbuzo has begun a Certificate in Community Development with UNISA in January while our Community Care Manager is participating in a Higher Certificate in Management with the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD). Both courses aim to develop the management skills of young supervisors and team leaders working in the community and voluntary sector.
One of our information and advocacy workers Ntokozo Ncobeni has succeeded in securing a place on the National Certificate in Paralegal Practice with SASSETA with a view to securing a Diploma in Paralegal Practice in the future. This is part of the skills development plan of the Department of Labour. This qualification providers learners with a basic knowledge and understanding of the South African legal system, fundamental laws, their application and social context so as to provide people with expert advice on their rights and entitlements and enhance access to justice.
Our Child Support Worker Slindile Ntshalintshali has begun a course
with the National Association of Child Care Workers (NACCW). This course will
give her a sound grounding in Child and Youth Care Work, covering all issues
ranging from children’s rights to child protection issues. .
Launch of the Gardening Project
A group of volunteers from overseas will be arriving at Dharmagiri to work on a gardening project in Mqatsheni with Khuphuka and Sangha Seva. This will involve creating sustainable, high yielding gardens for families with orphans and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. The project will launch a longer term initiative which will encourage youth from the area to create and maintain gardens such as these for families in need within their communities.
Khuphuka Collaboration with Clowns Without Borders
Clowns Without Borders South Africa (CWBSA) will be working in partnership with Khuphuka in 2010 with a view to securing more funding to continue this partnership in the coming years. They will be introducing themselves to the local communities through a series of 10 performances in schools throughout the area in April. Later in the year they will facilitate workshops with children who have been orphaned and their carers and also begin to identify and train Khuphuka staff to continue to offer this important work once our child support centre is complete. For more information on the work of CWBSA see www.cwbsa.org
Khuphuka is going to the World Cup!
The Khuphuka Project has been successful in gaining 100 tickets to a world cup match in June this year. 10 adult chaperones will be taking 90 children and young people from our community to the match which will be an amazing experience for all concerned. We would like to thank the organization ‘grassroots soccer’ for this opportunity. See www.grassrootsoccer.org for more information.
Funding Update
In December the Khuphuka Project received confirmation that they will receive core funding from the AIDS Foundation of South Africa (AFSA). The funding will cover the modest stipends of our staff and some operational costs. AFSA mobilizes funding to equip community based and non-governmental organizations with financial resources and appropriate skills to implement and manage primary health care and development programmes that limit the spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of the AIDS epidemic in vulnerable communities in South Africa. We are very grateful to the AFSA for providing this essential funding and for recognizing the value of the work we are doing in the community of Mqatsheni. For more information on the work of the AFSA see www.aids.org.za
Fundraising Appeal – Khuphuka urgently needs a new vehicle!
A 4x4 vehicle is essential for the successful functioning of the Khuphuka work programmes. This is because our target populations are all rural based and a significant distance apart with limited or no public transport between these communities. In addition the roads are gravel and can be almost inaccessible in places especially in the rainy season. In order to reach out to the most vulnerable who are most in need of our service a 4X4 vehicle is an essential expenditure. We would welcome any individuals or groups who wish to get involved in fundraising for this much needed resource. Please contact Matt at matt.khuphuka@gmail.com if you are interested.
Rize Up CDs
As part of our fundraising strategy, the staff of the Khuphuka Project recorded a music CD of traditional Zulu songs and the finished version is available now. If you are interested in purchasing the CD or selling copies at a fundraising event, please email office@khuphuka.org
Thank You!
A very big thank you to San Francisco Insight who recently raised over 15,000 dollars for Khuphuka. Information on SFI can be found on their website at www.sfinsight.org . Heartfelt thanks goes to the many individual donors who gave so generously to our project over the past three months. The management and staff of the Khuphuka Project are extremely grateful for these expressions of generosity.
For more information on our Project please contact us at
The Khuphuka Project is an Initiative of Dharmagiri Outreach. Dharmagiri, PO Box 270, Underberg 3257, KZN, South Africa. Tel. 00 27 33 7011138. office.dgo@gmail.com
Dharmagiri
(Association Incorporated under Section 21) is a Non Profit Organisation 028 378
and Public Benefit Organisation 18/11/13/1926
within South Africa.
Directors: HR Weinberg, LM Weinberg, JP Meyer, Marlene Matheson