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Waterberg Welfare Society

Waterberg Welfare Society (WWS) was founded in 2000 as a grassroots community-based NGO dedicated to providing help and support to those infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. (Visit the WWS website.)

Today the WWS's programs and services include:

HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness programs
Treatment and management of HIV/AIDS
Mobile Clinic to rural farms
Home community-based care (HCBC)
Hospice/respite palliative care
Voluntary counseling and testing for HIV
Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs

The Wilson Foundation has been involved with the Waterberg Welfare Society since its earliest days. Over the years we have made grants to support a variety of needs, including: a home the WWS converted into its hospice, clinic and offices; a van to transport patients to and from the clinic and hospital; salaries for nurses and staff members and funds for medications for opportunistic medications related to HIV. Over the last several years we have made grants to support the essential general operating expenses of the WWS.

Since its founding the WWS has grown to a staff of 50 permanent local staff, over a third of whom are living with HIV. Through the leadership of these local stakeholders, the WWS actively promotes its "Stepping Forward is a Step Forward" campaign, aimed at reducing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS by encouraging people to step forward and undergo voluntary counseling and testing to establish their HIV status.

Timothy House Center was opened in 2006 to accommodate the Waterberg Welfare Society's growing program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Timothy House's mission is to enable the youth in the community to understand HIV/AIDS through programs that enable them to become role models, to make informed choices, lead healthy lives, and know their HIV status.

Programs and services offered by Timothy House include:

Prevention programs and awareness workshops at the Center and in the local schools on a range of topics, including HIV/AIDS; STDs, drug and alcohol abuse; teen pregnancy
Bereavement & Trauma/Abuse Counseling and support
Hlabologang preschool (crèche)
Feeding and nutrition program
Peer Education & gender sensitive innovative Boys 2 Men Program
Homework assistance and after school program
Outreach through sport (Soccer, basketball, volley/netball, lacrosse)
Music, dance, drama and poetry programs

The youth counselors and staff of Timothy House are dedicated to the health and well-being of a very vulnerable segment of the community- the children who have been affected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Some are orphans, and others have lost at least one parent. All struggle with the effects of a fragmented family unit in addition to the challenges of living in poverty. Still, these children are full of hope and the joy of living every day. The Wilson Foundation has supported Timothy House's programs through grants for the feeding program, which ensures that every child has at least one nutritious meal each day; computers and other equipment for the Homework Room to help children succeed in their studies; donation of dance costumes for the music and dance programs.

There are many ways you can support our efforts to bring help and hope to the children of South Africa. While we receive many generous offers to donate products, supplies and other items, the cost to ship these items to South Africa is often prohibitive. Therefore, we encourage monetary donations to help meet local needs.