Pieter-Dirk Uys, South Africa’s leading satirist, made his name internationally highlighting the absurdities of the apartheid system. Now, both at home and abroad, he uses his wit to highlight South Africa’s devastating HIV/AIDS crisis. He has made a major contribution to HIV/AIDS awareness and Wola Nani activities in this field.
Taking the HIV/AIDS issue as his current show, ‘Foreign Aids’, Pieter-Dirk Uys uses humour to approach subjects others feel uncomfortable with, to normalise sex and to provide valuable education. In the guise of his flamboyant alter ego, Evita Bezuidenhout, he spent over a year touring schools with his ‘for facts sake’ road show and it was here that he met Nqoepsie, a 17 year old in Grade 11 at St Cyprian’s School in Cape Town. Nqoepsie supports and fundraises for Wola Nani through the sale of beaded ribbons made on the income generation programme. Sharing a commitment to AIDS projects, PDU visited Wola Nani in Khayelitsha and subsequently invited Nqoepsie to join him on his tour in London at the Triangle Theatre. Together, the tour raised over £30,000 through the sale of AIDS ribbons.
Nqoepsie said she was inspired to help the young women at Wola Nani because of their entrepreneurial spirit and the fact that, as a teenager, she felt she understood some of their aspirations, “I liked that they are trying to make their own lives better.”
The money raised enabled Wola Nani to purchase its own premises in Khayelitsha. Our grateful thanks go to them both for their determined efforts and continued support.
To find out more about Pieter Dirk-Uys and his work visit his web site at www.evita.co.za.
The Department of Health
Brenda Smuts, of the Department of Health, expressed her support for the initiative; “We support Wola Nani as they provide opportunities to people living with HIV to make a positive contribution; to earn an income, support others and allow those who are infected to share their problems.
“The emphasis is on drawing in those people who are themselves infected. There are few programmes that we work with where PWAs (People with AIDS) are actually involved. With trained home carers and lay counsellors, they are able to participate in the whole AIDS arena. The emphasis is on those who are impaired. In this respect, I think they are unique.”
Wola Nani have enjoyed a successful relationship with ABSA since 1997.
George Gibbs, Consultant, Corporate Social Investment, at ABSA commented,
“ABSA was looking to support a service that
makes a real difference at ground level. Wola Nani’s work is compassionate
and committed, giving the people what they need. It enriches them, empowers
them to earn an income and equips them with the skills to help themselves. It’s
from the people, for the people, by the people. A service that’s right
there in the community – a street level operation that alleviates suffering
and hardship.”