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The Waterberg Welfare Society (WWS) was formed in 2000 primarily to provide help and support to those individuals infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In the Vaalwater community, there is one doctor for every 20,000 people. The nearest hospital is 1 ½ hours away.
Through conversations with WWS founding physician Dr. Peter Farrant and operations director Mary Stephenson, Trisha Wilson and The Wilson Foundation began supporting the efforts of the Waterberg Welfare Society shortly after its formation. The Foundation funded the purchase of a home to serve as the new headquarters of the WWS, replacing a trailer that the agency had been using. This new space greatly enhanced the agency's capacity to serve clients, and the scope of services expanded rapidly. "I am deeply moved by Dr. Farrant's commitment to promoting good heath and strong education in South Africa, and I am determined to help him in any way I can," said Trisha Wilson.
As one of the only nonprofit organizations or NGO's (non-government organizations) in the area, the Waterberg Welfare Society provides a wide range of health, education, outreach and enrichment programs for its clients, including:
- Educational Prevention & Awareness workshops on HIV/AIDS, Drug & Alcohol Abuse, Teen Pregnancy
- Community-Based Health Care
- Voluntary Counseling & Testing
- Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC) Program
- HIV/AIDS support groups
- Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs
To support the WWS' clinic services, The Wilson Foundation has underwritten the salary of the head nurse, who not only provides counseling and clinical care, but also oversees the training program for the community-based care team. The nearest hospital is over an hour away and very few have cars, so The Wilson Foundation donated a van and funds the salary of the driver who takes ill patients to the hospital.
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The Wilson Foundation is providing hope and a healthier future for hundreds of children and adults living in the Waterberg region in South Africa. Please click here to learn more about our life-saving health programs. |
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An important area of focus for the WWS is the care and enrichment of the area youth. The After School Program and the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Program reach out to help the most innocent victims of the AIDS pandemic, the children. After school programs for area youth and smaller children provide safe, structured and enriching programs to broaden the mind and stimulate the soul. Thanks to a number of generous donors, the WWS has recently completed construction on a new Youth Center, Timothy's House, to serve as a gathering place for area children and as a hub for all children's programs. "It is imperative that we have somewhere for our children to come. This is the one place where they are safe and secure and trust the staff. The children know that they will not be abused here and they can open up to us," says Mary Stephenson.
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Like many rural South Africa communities, the Vaalwater area suffers from a severe shortage of available medical care. The nearest hospital is in Nylstroom, over an hour away. The Waterberg Welfare Society clinic and a nearby government clinic provide the only organized medical facilities available to serve this community of over 20,000 people.
To address this issue, the Waterberg Welfare Society has developed a community-based health care program to provide home visits to members of the community. Through the HIV/AIDS Counseling and Frail Care Program, volunteers participate in a training program to learn basic nursing and health care skills. Many of these volunteers are HIV positive and have been restored to health by participating in an anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment program. Participating in this home health care program not only gives them marketable job skills, it also provides a means of sharing their stories with others who may be HIV positive, encouraging them to be tested and seek treatment if necessary. The cultural stigma and secrecy around HIV/AIDS continues to be a challenge, but these community-based caregivers serve as models to other community members that the disease is treatable and it is possible to live a productive life with AIDS.
Through the leadership of Mary Stephenson, Dr. Farrant and a team of dedicated community leaders, the WWS has now attracted additional donors and volunteers who share The Wilson Foundation's commitment for the vital role this organization plays in the Vaalwater area.
"HIV/AIDS is a very serious challenge
because it involves so many aspects of the lives of the community.
It has had an overwhelming socioeconomic impact
that will have repercussions for generations."
— Mary Stephenson, International Operations Director, Waterberg Welfare Society
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