Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust kicks off the school year with healthy-living education

AS the new school year resumes, the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT)’s Education and Youth Empowerment programmes for 2024 are also taking shape.

HACT is a Hillcrest-based NGO and PBO founded in 1990 by the Hillcrest Methodist Church to respond to the HIV/Aids epidemic. The organisation remains dedicated to saving and transforming lives through sustainable interventions, including HIV prevention and health education, healthcare, community outreach, family strengthening, skills development and economic empowerment.

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Annually, HACT runs a number of education, healthy living and skills development programmes for learners in the Valley of 1000 Hills area. These include evidence-based programmes in primary and secondary schools and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention courses for girls, but it also has training services for unemployed youth to provide their work experience, as well as beading training, sewing schools and a family-strengthening course for gogos (grandmothers) who are raising vulnerable grandchildren (or great-grandchildren).

HACT’s Goals4Life programme targets Grade 5–7 learners from rural primary schools who participate in a 10-week course which uses soccer to deliver fun, age-appropriate education on HIV/Aids, GBV and healthy living to orphaned and vulnerable children. Term soccer tournaments enable HIV testing and foster supportive community-based networks. HACT’s Peer Education programme works with over 300 Grade 9–12 high school learners who participate in a four-year leadership programme.

These young leaders gain knowledge, skills and confidence to protect their health and to act as positive role models for social change across six learning areas: self-development; gender, relationships and rights; sexual and reproductive health; leadership; communication skills and community action. They are also challenged to engage with their peers and community members to do likewise. High school learners also have the opportunity to participate in sports days, leadership camps, debate competitions, community upliftment events and career guidance training.

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Speaking on the importance of their programmes, HACT’s Chief Executive Officer, Candace Davidson-Moolman, said the organisation is driven to see individuals, families and communities equipped with the skills and confidence needed to not only reduce their risk of HIV infection, or to navigate well their treatment journey for those living with HIV, but to protect and improve holistic health – physical, mental, social, financial and relational.

“Awareness, education and skills development are essential for the growth and future of our young people. Apart from our programmes in primary and high schools, our in-house internships provide young adults with work placement to improve prospects of employment or entrepreneurship. We believe in encouraging life-long learning, and no one is too old to learn. Our local gogos, who are pillars in our communities and are often primary caregivers and breadwinners, also have opportunities to learn skills which help them put food on their tables and equip them to be better ‘parents’,” she said.

HACT thanks its partners and supporters who continue to support and strengthen its education and health services to address HIV and Aids and to empower and heal their communities.

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