Thembalethu

Thembalethu - SiSwati for “Our Hope” - is a Non-Profit Organization (NGO) that is changing the way the Mpumalanga province of South Africa is tackling innumerable social issues, extreme poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The Thembalethu organization started over 8 years ago (1999) and is located in the Nkomazi Region, which shares borders with Swaziland and Mozambique. In response to the AIDS epidemic, Thembalethu created the Home Based Care program (HBC), which aims to assist and educate those who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. HBC provides The HBC program has grown to include over 300 care workers and functions in over 21 villages offering palitive care for those who are suffering from AIDS.

Furthermore, Thembalethu is an organization that has now expanded its scope to include numerous successful community outreach and development programs.

These programs include:

Youth development programs (Youth in Action)
Volunteer HIV/AIDS testing and counseling (VCT)
Income generating projects
Food distribution projects
Orphan and vulnerable children support (OVC)
Despite great and measurable improvements that have been made, the poverty and HIV/AIDS situation is still bleak in the Nkomazi Region, with an estimated 50% of the population HIV positive and an unemployment rate over 60%. Thembalethu is continually looking to expand, improve and do whatever it can to help the people of the surrounding area, while still being culturally conscious and respectful. Thembalethu depends on the generosity donors and is always appreciative of any support towards their efforts.

Thembalethu’s latest undertaking is a revolutionary ICT project, which is providing the power of technology and high tech educational tools never before seen within the surrounding impoverished rural communities. Thembalethu has supplied the necessary tools to bridge the digital divide and enable the community to start several self-sufficient online properties. For example, the local youth have had the opportunity to have an online edition of their weekly newspaper and their arts and crafts program:

*'The Nkomazi Voice’ at [http://www.nkomazivoice.com "nkomazivoice.com"]

*www.wildlyafricancrafts.com [http://www.wildlyafricancrafts.com "wildlyafricancrafts.com"]