THE spirit of Madiba was truly alive at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) as dozens of people chose to pledge their 67 minutes in support of those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
People of all ages from local businesses, community groups, NGOs, schools and churches gave of their time to volunteer or donate items on HACT’s wish list for its projects.
A few of the local businesses involved on Mandela Day included Trendi Holdings, whose team assisted with various tasks around the centre including planting miniature succulents in the Plant Nursery. Staff from Nedbank, Impilo Productions and Bidvest Insurance helped give the centre’s facilities a fresh coat of paint while an energetic team from First Group travelled to KwaNyuswa to work alongside local grannies in one of the centre’s community-run vegetable gardens.
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One of the many highlights from the day was a moving performance by students and teachers from Ubizo School of Art who, after completing their 67 minutes of volunteering around the centre, spent the afternoon singing and entertaining patients and staff in the centre’s 24-bed Respite Unit.
“HIV/AIDS impacts all of us as South Africans,” said HACT’s marketing and fund-raising manager, Claire Hodgkinson. “It’s been so uplifting to witness people from all walks of life giving up their time to come help those less fortunate than themselves. I think days like today send a strong message to those impacted by the disease that they are not alone and their community does care about them.”
To find out more about HACT’s work and support their work, contact Claire on 031 765 5866 or e-mail fundraising@hillaids.org.za. Alternatively you can visit HACT’s Plant Nursery and Woza Moya craft shop, which are open 8am to 4pm from Monday to Friday from and 8am to 2pm on Saturday.
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