HIV/AIDS - JUDEA HOPE PROJECT

INTRODUCTION

One of the many challenges that South Africa is facing currently, is the HIV/AIDS epidemic. An estimated 5.2 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2008, more than in any other country in Africa.

It is believed that in 2008, over 250,000 South Africans died of AIDS. National prevalence is around 11%, with some age groups being particularly affected. Almost one-in-three women aged 25-29, and over a quarter of men aged 30-34, are living with HIV.

South Africa’s HIV and AIDS epidemic has had a devastating effect on children in a number of ways. There were an estimated 280,000 under-15s living with HIV in 2007, a figure that has almost doubled since 2001. What Judea Harvest is confronted with currently is the HIV/AIDS orphan challenge. In 2007 it was estimated that 1,400,000 orphans in South Africa were orphaned as a direct consequence of HIV/AIDS.

Many children have lost one or both parents to AIDS, and are orphaned. An increasing number of households are headed by children, as AIDS erodes traditional community support systems. One of the many challenges according to Judea Harvest is that children end up uncared for and above all, dealing with hunger on a daily basis. Malnutrition is one of the most pressing problems in Africa.
Dr. Bruce Wilkinson one of the world’s foremost Christian teachers, is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Prayer of Jabez. Over the past three decades, Wilkinson has founded several global initiatives, including organizations that recruited and trained thousands of Americans to address hunger, AIDS, and poverty in Africa. He has written Hope for Africa - God’s Answer to AIDS “Winning the battle against HIV/AIDS. Judea Hope is using this training program focusing on HIV/AIDS education, prevention and awareness. We have had great successes in the past 10 years and are continuing to train and equip community leaders for the dire need.

THE STRATEGY

To equip the community leaders of South Africa with the knowledge of HIV/AIDS. This training include, a Video course and books with the following topics:

• TRUTH - What is it and how do you contract it?

• How should I respond if someone gives me HIV/AIDS?

• MARRIAGE - How should I behave sexually after I’m married?

• PROTECTION - How can I live my life so I never get HIV/AIDS?

• HOPE - How should I live my life if I have HIV/AIDS?

• COMPASSION - Confronting the stigma of HIV/AIDS.

We aim to train and equip 50 community leaders in each area with the training and to mobilize them to reach 500 people each. This will be done in schools, Churches and community centers.

SUMMARY

Judea Harvest aims to make a major impact on the HIV/AIDS crises in South Africa, we aim to tell people the truth in love about HIV/AIDS, from God’s perspective. 1South Africa has the highest number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in the world. South Africa’s HIV and AIDS epidemic has had a devastating effect on children in a number of ways. There were an estimated 330,000 under-15s living with HIV in 2009, a figure that has almost doubled since 2001. The age bracket that AIDS most heavily targets – younger adults – means it is not uncommon for one or more parents to die from AIDS while their offspring are young. The number of premature deaths due to HIV/AIDS has risen significantly over the last decade from 39 percent to 75 percent in 2010.