Stellenbosch University
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Equality Unit celebrates a decade of partnership with a local NPO
Author: Dumile Mlambo
Published: 10/10/2017

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community". These words of Anthony D'Angelo resonated well with the festivities of Thursday, 05 October as the Equality Unit at Stellenbosch University joined Be Part Yoluntu Centre for their 10th year anniversary in Mbekweni, Paarl.

The centre, which is an NPO that operates within the Mbekweni community celebrated its decade of existence by hosting a mini-symposium under the theme: Difficult Conversations and Breaking the Silence.

One of the founding members of the centre, Dr Lize Hellstrom, reflected on the ten year journey, stating all the challenges and successes they have encountered. She added that they chose to celebrate this day differently (with a symposium) because there's more work that  still needs to be done to educate societies on HIV-related stigma and challenging the myths and misconceptions about it.  

During the symposium the message was very clear, that the current and dominant medical responses to the pandemic need to be reviewed. All the speakers argued that, these have to be accompanied by creative programmes and strategies that talks to the youth in the language they understand.

Dr James Lees who is a Senior Lecturer in the Education Faculty at the University of the Western Cape reflected: “We must always remember that the 'H' in HIV stands for 'Human', and that this epidemic is as much about us as it is about the virus".

 

The journey…  

Although Be Part is primarily a Clinical Research Centre whose vision is to empower the community by creating an awareness about health and well-being, it also has a shared vision with the Equality Unit on matters related to HIV and Aids.

This, according to Mr Jaco Brink, head of Equality Unit, is the foundation of their ten year long partnership with Be Part. He further says this is one of the Equality Unit's longest running partnerships. From humble beginnings, the partnership started small in 2007 and included an award for a promising national public-private partnership initiative from the Mail & Guardian for the Afterhours Walk-in Clinic project at Victoria Street, Stellenbosch.

Every semester the unit sends a group of international students who study the IPSU Understanding HIV in South Africa: A Health & Social Justice Perspective to partner with members at the centre to design and implement a budgeted health communication project.

“Although we as the Equality Unit, serve the campus community, we still recognise the value partners can add to the delivery of our core activities and strategic objectives. This is one such partnership", said Jaco who was very instrumental in pioneering this partnership.

He concluded by saying that the university upholds a tradition of partnerships (locally and internationally) in order to deliver its mission and meet the needs of the communities it serves.

For more information about the Equality Unit and specifically the Unit's HIV and gender portfolio click here.

*The university boasts a fully-fledged Centre for Partnerships & Internationalisation (CPI).