De Beers Community HIV/Aids Partnership Programme

HIV/Aids is not only a business risk but a threat to sustainable development. In today’s global economy, a disease that has killed more than 30 million people is everyone’s problem … and every company’s responsibility.

Global Business Coalition on HIV/Aids

Why do we do it?

• Extension of workplace programme

• “Us and them” scenario

• Increasing need in the communities

Why a community response?

• HIV/Aids committee to give direction and set best practice standards

• Governed by the De Beers Fund – Independent Trustees

• Managed by Tshikululu Social Investments– Strict financial and good governance controls– Strong project involvement– Strict reporting requirements– Comprehensive project review and oversight

Governance

• CSI activity for decades– Resources, expertise and established

relationships in some of the most challenged areas

• Strong geographic focus:– Communities directly linked to the mining

operations (host or labour sending)

• Long-term commitment

• Emphasis on quality

De Beers Fund Approach

• R10m annual budget • Three year programme• Both local and national focus• Strategic community interventions• Partnerships critical to success (Govt, NGOs,

donor agencies, other corporates)• Focus on women and girls

HIV/Aids Community Programme

• Survey of Key Stakeholders to understand the need– Dialogue

• Development of strategy – agreed by the committee and reviewed on an annual basis

• Involvement of HIV/Aids coordinators at each mine – eyes and ears

• Combined with health as a comprehensive approach

HIV/Aids Community Programme

• Prevention with focus on high risk groups such as women and youth

• Treatment, care and support for those infected and affected

• Research

HIV/Aids Community Programme

Prevention:• Soul City (Venetia , Cullinan, Finsch, Namaqualand, Kimberley, The Oaks,

Koffiefontein)• Grassroot Soccer (Kimberley, Finsch, Venetia, Cullinan, The Oaks, Namaqualand)• Field Bands (Kimberley, Cullinan, Venetia)

Treatment:• Rural Health Initiative (Venetia)• Air Mercy Service (7 000 Northern Cape flights)

Care and support:• Isibindi (Kimberley)• Cotlands (Jhb and Soweto)• African Children’s Feeding Scheme (Soweto)• Humana (Sekhukune)• Catholic Medical Missions Board (Venetia)• Engender Health (Venetia)• St Joseph’s Care Centre (Cullinan)• Wits Hospice (Soweto)

Research:• TB Research Project

Projects

Field Band Foundation

• Focused on youth• Gives a sense of hope• Life skills in the context of music and dance• HIV/Aids focus (peer educators)

Prevention

Five De Beers-sponsored Field Bands are located in DBCM labour-sending areas

Air Mercy Services (Red Cross)

• Provides specialised and emergency medical care to the most rural areas of the Northern Cape

• Training for practitioners on the ground

Treatment

“Flying Doctors”

Isibindi (“courage”)

• Isibindi model developed by NACCW• Avoids institutionalisation, provides circles of care in

communities• Identifies and trains child and youth care workers,

accredited qualification• Gives support to children and vulnerable families,

especially child-headed households• Partnership with US charity donor, government

(DSD), local NGOs

Care and Support

Isibindi (“courage”)

• Challenges

– Sustainability– Meeting the need– Focus on women and girls

• Benefits

– Complementary to workplace programme– Platform for HIV/Aids coordinators to engage

communities– Pilot projects– Partnerships offer opportunities– M&E are capturing lessons learned– Impact on women and girl

HIV/Aids Community Programme