Kwa Zulu Natal has the highest incidence of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, with up to 30% of the population aged 15 to 49 years being infected. Without retro-viral drugs an infected person can expect to live 5 to 10 years. This age group is the most economically productive group and likely to have children. UNAIDS statistics give an expected figure of 2 million orphans in South Africa by 2005.

Fortunately, in August 2003, the South African Government announced the start a programme of anti-retroviral treatment. Of course this will take a time to become affective and the orphan situation will continue to increase. There are currently over 1 million AIDS orphans. The ideal is for these children to be cared for by their grandparents, in a familiar and secure environment.

HOW THE PROJECT WORKS

The P.I.N. [People in Need] Project is a ‘Not for Profit Organisation' started in 1999 in the township of Esikhawini, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. The aim of the P.I.N. Project is to assist the grandparents, by providing income-generating work for those who can and who wish to work. The main income comes from the traditional skill of beadwork, mainly the production of an AIDS pin. There are over 60 Gogos [Zulu for granny] making the AIDS pins, sold mainly in the UK, with a growing number in other countries. To date they have made over 15,000 pins.

The profit made from the sale of the pins is returned to the Welfare Fund for the purchase of food, clothes, school equipment and the funding of life-skills and counselling for both children and grandparents.

The founder of the project is Alice Searle, who worked as a British VSO at the University of Zululand.

The Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation has funded a worker for the Project. The day-to-day running of the Project is carried out by a local committee of volunteers from the township. Alice returns each year to work with the Project, and is often joined by keen and interested Supporters.

THE FUTURE OF THE P.I.N. PROJECT

From 2005, the focus of the Project has been on education and training, with food being given in emergency cases. This emphasis has come from the recognition that the P.I.N. children need to have their potential abilities fully developed for their future survival.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

A team of individual supporters are prepared to give talks on the South African HIV/AIDS situation and the operation of the P.I.N Project. These talks include a short video, a display of photographs, and the sale of pins and African jewellery.

The pins can be purchased at £2.50 each. CLICK HERE to order and pay with a secure credit/debit card payment.

For more information, to book a talk about the project and to purchase pins other than with a credit/debit card please contact the project at the following email address info@pinproject.org.