Background

A five-year pilot intervention began in two primary schools in Cato Manor in January 2002 with a group of 300, Grade 5 children. The intervention was completed at the end of 2006 with 450 young people in Grade 9 at two secondary schools. The second five-year cycle began in 2007 with a new group of Grade 5 children in two primary schools. The Durban based programme has expanded each year since then.

iThemba Lethu Hillside implemented the same program in 2008 in the Valley of 1000 Hills at the Botha’s Hill Senior Primary School for 165 children in Grade 5 and has continued with the same children through grades 6 and 7.
There are currently 441 learners participating in the program.

We have benefitted from the experience passed on from Glenridge Church, whose program has been evaluated by the Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division [HEARD] based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. Further information on the Glenridge project may be obtained from their iThemba Lethu Co-ordinator, Glenda.
Tel 031-261 7723 or e-mail glenda@ithembalethu.org.za

Management Team

The management team listed below provide direction and support to the project on a voluntary basis:

Richard Lawton, D Phil (Ox); MBL (Unisa); M.Phil (UP) - Pastor of Hillside Church
Wendy Smith, MA Research Psyc – Social Projects Manager
Nompepho Ntloko, BSocSc, (Fort Hare) – Social Worker
David Roome, M Phil (UP); BSc (Wits) - Pastor at Hillside Church, Hillcrest
Helen Roome, BSc (Occ Ther) Hons (Wits) Dip Prac Lab Law (UNISA) – Occupational Therapist

Objectives

In order to reduce HIV infection rates amongst children in the Valley of a 1000 Hills, we believe that they need to understand that they are valuable and that they have a future and a destiny.

These basic principles underlie our objectives:

Geographical Impact

Botha’s Hill Primary is situated on the outskirts of the Valley of 1000 Hills, west of Durban.