NKOSI’S 4 LFIE FARM

We have a mountain to climb for us to reach our economic target growth here in South Africa. We are facing a very huge problem of unemployment, with almost two and a half million South African youth currently out of work and not in school. Apartheid is one of the reasons why this problem has escalated so rapidly through the past years, but we cannot live on blame, we must stand up and make things happen. Here at Nkosi’s Haven have grabbed the bull by the horn, we have a plan is process that will come in handy on addressing this problem we are facing.

In 2008 we bought a 12 Acer farm of which we want to create job opportunities for mothers and children infected with HIV/AIDS, around areas in Sebokeng. This is a job opportunity for infected people without education, who are finding it difficult to find a job for provides their families. The farm will provide them with skills on how to self sustain, how to produce, run a business. Our aim is to create 300 jobs 200 children and 100 mothers and we want to make this project broad by including jobs like furniture making, beading and candle making.

We are a HIV/AIDS facility, so we value a healthy lifestyle. Our farm will be producing organic products form organic fruits and vegetables to organic meat. Organic products are very healthy considering that we are an HIV/AIDS organization we will be providing good and healthy products for our organization and other organization that will be doing business with us once this project is up and running. The important of organic food is that:

• Low level of pesticides
• They contain no synthetic additives, they are preserved and sweetened naturally using substance such as honey and grape juice
• They have a significant high level of nutrients
• Organic livestock products do not use antibiotics or growth hormones.
• The are free of Genetically Engineered (GE) ingredients
• They have less cholesterol

This won’t take away the unemployment problem away but it will help the government in a way, it will take more that this project to decrease this high rate of unemployment, but it takes project like this one to give people hope. Hopefully if we manage to acquire more funds we will make this project bigger that this, we believe that we all deserve a far chance this is why we are making it possible for HIV/AIDS diagnosed people to make something of their lives.

You can visit our website for more information or any kind of assistance. www.nkosishaven.org

  

NGO NOT GIVEN MUCH ATTENTION

South Africa is one of the many countries facing an overwhelming development challenges education, health, poverty etc. It’s a problem that will never be resolved now but with the help of Non-governmental Organization we are heading to the right direction. NGO's did not exist in South Africa before democracy. When the new government came in power a pledge was drawn out for South African citizens, to help those who are in need in the sense of "UBUNTU".

An NGO is an organization that survives on its own it depends on the government funds and the public as a whole for surviving. We are very fortunate to have people willing to give their time on helping the less fortunate people in our country; we have seen so many NGO come in the past years. But with the lack of funding we have seen most of them shutting down. Wherever we go NGO's are facing finance problems, now if this goes on how will it help us on meeting the National Development plan for 2030? President Jacob Zuma mentioned in his recent State of Nation speech the need to put more effort on ensuring the survival of NGOs.

What will happen should the government fail to stick to their promises just like in the past years? Are we going to see more of our NGO shutting down what will happen to all the HIV/AIDS infected people, the orphans, abused women, drug addict’s homeless people and elderly people? Every time when the government does not meet its promises is the poor who feel the impact. What has lead to this epic disaster? What happened to the sense of UBUNTU the government has been preaching? It’s difficult for NGO to continue helping the nation if the government is not sticking to their part of the deal.



THE SHAME OF OUR COUNTRY



www.umack.com



South Africa is known for all its beautiful landscapes which have attracted a lot of tourists all over around the country. To be honest we are not only known for that but one of the crime kingpin country. The high rate of crime taking place here has put a dent of the perspective of our country in the International eye. One of the leading crimes in South Africa is domestic violence, from physical and psychological abuse on woman and children.

Each day a women and girls are raped, beaten, burned, trafficked and subject to horrendous sexual violence all around the world. While here in South Africa it is reported that 1 in 4 woman is raped from a one month baby to a 94 years old grandmother. Every 4 minutes a rape case is reported in our country. Rape has always been a problem in our country; it took the horrific rape and murder of Anene Booysen the 17 year old girl from Western Cape to raise voices of many South African. People are now willing to take a stand against this outrageous violence against women and children.

One would have thought that after this horrible incident of Anene  we would see a reduction on sexual abuse but reports show that recent rapes have been  involving babies and older women. Now if you are a citizen of this country you would ask yourself what South Africa is turning into. Are we becoming the capital of sexual abuse? Is this what we want our country to be known about? Is this what we want for the next generation?



www.hypelife.tv



We are all to blame from traditional doctors who feed men lies that virgins can cure HIV/AIDS, to the Government and the public as a whole. We are responsible for each other just sitting and not doing anything about this because you are not affected makes you guilty as the rapist. No one can come to help our country but ourselves. Its time we take a stand against women violence. If one voice can make a difference just imagine what 10 or hundred voices can do. With more close to 100 cases reported in our country, the maximum sentence for rape is life in prison which is 25, but official shows that less than 10% of reported sexually crimes result in a successful prosecution, making many reluctant to rape.  I personally think that life sentence in prison until death would be the solution.

Here at Nkosi's Haven we say NO to domestic violence. This does not just harm you emotionally and physically but healthy wise. Rape is one of the reasons behind the high rate of HIV/AIDS in our country. How are we going to reach an AIDS free generation if we continue to sexually abuse our women? REAL MEN DO NOT ABUSE THEIR WOMEN BUT EMBRACE THEM!!!

KEEPING NKOSI’S DREAM ALIVE

Nkosi Johnson giving a speech at the 13th International AIDS Conference at Durban 2000

“Care fro us and accept us we are all human beings. We are normal, we have hands, we have feet, we can talk and we have needs just like everyone else. Don’t be afraid of us-we are the same” This is what Nkosi Johnson said at the 13^th International AIDS Conference at Durban 2000, he was one of the opening ceremony speakers.

Nkosi took the courage to address the Nation and the world as a whole against the discrimination toward AIDS infected people; he became the voice of the voiceless. At that moment, AIDS was certainly a death sentence prior the availability of Anti-retrovirals. Anti-retrovirals also known as ARV regime which ensure a long fulfilling, productive life. Taking responsibility and with support, being positive about one’s status, the sky is the limit.

Before he passed away, his dearest wish was to open a long-term facility that caters for destitute HIV/AIDS infected mothers and children in an environment of acceptance, loving and non-discriminatory. He proudly officiated the opening of the first Nkosi’s Haven in April 1999, as he separated with his mother at the age of 3 because to HIV diagnosis.  Gail Johnson had an arrangement with Nkosi’s mom to look after him as he was not supposed to outlive her.

Nkosi’s Haven continues to thrive-doing the work Nkosi so badly wanted giving mothers and children (including orphans infected or not) quality care and interaction. Our mission is to offer good care, best education for our kids and skills developing programs for the mothers, as we want to empower them to become responsible and contributing members of the society.

Assist us on working towards an AIDS free generation by joining hands. Together we can divided we fall. HIV/AIDS dose not discriminate why should we. We are one irrespective of out status. Let us keep Nkosi’s dream alive.