South Africa

On a Qantas flight to Johannesburg, operated by QCCT members in December 2002, the team coincidentally met an amazing woman, Gail Johnson. She had founded a live-in care centre for destitute mothers and their babies with HIV/AIDS, after her 12-year-old adopted son died of an AIDS-related illness.

Her son stole the hearts of millions of TV viewers worldwide when he delivered a powerful address at the 13th Annual World AIDS Conference in Durban in 2000.

Since then, QCCT has been working alongside Gail Johnson, and we have witnessed Nkosi’s Haven transform from a small derelict caravan park into a vibrant village. Today it includes colourful cottages, a baby day care facility, library, kitchen, bakery, a music and arts centre, and a pre-school currently under construction.

Nkosi’s Haven Village is home to approximately 22 mothers and 120 children. Around half of these children are orphans, yet together they have become one large, supportive family.

In 2008, Nkosi’s Farm 4Life was established with the purchase of 12 acres of land, 50 km south of Johannesburg. The farm accommodates destitute HIV/AIDS mothers and their children. It is also income-generating, producing organic crops to feed the Village residents, with surplus sold to the local community. The farm also provides skills training programs for resident mothers.

Some of the projects QCCT has contributed to include painting and restoring cottages, building a music room (therapy for the soul), establishing garden beds, planting crops, building chicken coops, and raising money to buy over 200 chickens.

What’s next on the list is helping to finish the new pre-school, expand the garden, and restore and paint the house at Farm 4Life.