KZN Aids home gets support

THE British Consulate-General and the South African Post Office (Sapo) have teamed up to assist a home for Aids orphans in a move that will help in getting infection control supplies to the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal.

Shepherds Keep, situated on the Bluff, has been handed funds under the British Small Grant Scheme for their Hands of Mercy programme. Sapo will donate 1000 boxes normally used for mailing parcels.

Home co-founder Mr Colin Pratley, said the grant would help train counsellors and facilitate relief medicines. Pratley said although the project was being initiated in KwaZulu-Natal, it was hoped that it would grow to a national level.

"Because KZN is the Aids hot-spot, we are tackling the problem here first. We know the project is going to work because we have a solid work management system and accountability."

National level
Shepherd's Keep is registered as a section 21 public benefit company as well as a non-profit organisation.

"Through our experiences in the province we know we have to expand and focus on the bigger picture, and that could never be possible without the assistance of the British Consulate."

David Pearce, British Consul General, said that the small grant scheme supported mainly HIV/Aids programmes that were being run in the province.

"We get many submissions and often there are so many good organisations trying to do an enormous job."

"Home based care is something that we have spent a lot of money on."

The British Small Grant Scheme covers 240 projects nationally and 50 in KwaZulu-Natal every year.

KUBEN CHETTY

Daily News 8 November 2002