As dynamic and complicated the issue of sexual and reproductive health is, the HIV/AIDS era has brought many challenges for sexual and reproductive health interventions.
These challenges include the lack of access to targeted and reliable information on what works and what does not, limited access to evidence based approaches and tools, duplication of efforts, costly implementation of ineffective programmes and few opportunities to scale up successful approaches and strategies.
Secondly it has become blatantly imperative that partnerships and intersectoral approaches are of paramount importance. Having learnt these lessons, it gave rise to the establishment of Partners in Sexual Health (PSH).It is of this reason that the core values of PSH are imbedded on partnerships.
Partners in Sexual Health, founded by Pasty de Lora in September 2008, is an evidence based organization that focuses on sexual and reproductive health including HIV/AIDS amongst all men, women and specifically youth in South Africa. In January 2009, PSH was formally established as a fully fledge non governmental organization.
PSH therefore focuses on evidence, proven effective practices, experiences, lessons learnt then transfer and exchange this knowledge to improve sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS amongst the South African population.
Vision
To pursue ongoing learning, reflection and exchange of best practices with the aim of improving sexual and reproductive health including HIV/AIDS amongst all men and women, specifically youth in South Africa.
Mission
Decrease the breach between sexual and reproductive health research and intervention programmes to improve effective evidence based practices based on results and the quality of sexual and reproductive health.
Objectives
To strengthen partnership and inter-sectoral collaboration in the field of sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS. To improve sexual health intervention programmes that is practical, cost effective and results orientated. To share evidence based and best practices experiences amongst partners. Conducting evidence based advocacy for sound policies and programmes in the promotion of sexual health.
www.psh.org.za

Introduction
The Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) have been combating dangerous and often deadly runaway fires since being baptised through the devastating fires in 1999 and 2000 in Cape Town. With approximately 180 members at three stations (Newlands, Jonkershoek and the newly developing South Peninsula Station), the VWS is now a highly organised Section 21 Company that is gaining in reputation every year passing. The VWS has assisted the Table Mountain National Park and CapeNature as a first responder with some of the wildest fires Cape Town has ever experienced. Working closely with other emergency service organisations in wild-land fire management such as Table Mountain National Park, CapeNature, Cape Town Fire & Emergency Services, Disaster Management, Winelands Fire Brigade, Stellenbosch Fire Brigade, the South African Navy and Working on Fire has meant that the Volunteer Wildfire Services has, to date, achieved 38,666 active fire fighting hours between it’s members and stations. The VWS will, with your support, continue with the goal of saving South Africa’s natural heritage, property and lives. To support us Click here
What We Do
The VWS has three primary functions: Wildfire suppression services Education and awareness programmes Wildfire suppression and management training These primary functions form part of our Integrated Wildfire Management services which include: Prescribed burning Education programmes and projects at schools Community projects
How We Operate
On standby to respond to fires and emergencies 24 hours a day for 365 days of the year – that’s how we work.
Our volunteers are just that – volunteers. They are extraordinary people who give of their time and energy to protect lives, property and our natural heritage. Most have day jobs, some are students, others run their own companies – but all are dedicated, motivated and highly-trained to ensure that our ultimate goal of wildfire suppression is taken care of.
Departments
There are various departments within the Volunteer Wildfire Services that operate dependently to ensure the smooth running of our unit. These departments include:
Fire Fighters
Drivers
Control Room
Planning and Mobile Command
Logistics and Catering
Technical and Mechanical Services
Administration and Member Services
Funding
As a completely Non Profit Organisation the VWS remains operational by receiving funding from corporate and organisational partners as well as individual donors. We also initiate our own fundraising projects, like the popular Trail Challenge, the Awareness Day at our Jonkershoek Base and Open Day at our Newlands Base. This vital funding allows us to continue to manage ourselves independently.
We are always on the lookout for additional funding that will allow us to further serve the community.
www.vws.org.za

Facts

• We care for about 800 patients on any one day
• More than a quarter of our patients are between the ages of 20 and 35
• 40% of our patients have AIDS
• 60% of our patients have cancer
• We have 12 community hospices spread throughout Cape Town
• We have almost 200 staff
• We have more than 650 volunteers
• Most of our patients are cared for in their own homes
• We have 2 wards, one in Kenilworth and one in Mitchell’s Plain
• St Luke’s Hospice service is available 24hrs a day – a Community Sister is available from 08H30 to 16H30 Monday to Friday and a
• telephonic advisory service is available from 16H30 to 08H30 weekdays. Weekends the service is available 24hrs telephonically.
• We care for our patients without cost to the patient (unless the patient has a medical aid – we will then submit an invoice to that medical aid)
• Our service costs more than R20 million per year
• We raise our funds from the general public, big corporate & a small percentage is given to us by the State toward Home Based Care and
• the ward in Mitchell’s Plain.
• Many people remember St Luke’s Hospice in their wills

History of St Luke’s
In March 1980 the first formal meeting of the directors of St Luke’s Hospice took place following the visit to Cape Town Dame Cecily Saunders, the world renowned initiator of the hospice concept. The organization was officially incorporated as a non-profit company on 13 August 1980, to care for all people in need of its services regardless of their ability to pay, or of the class, colour or creed.
St Luke’s started working in the in patient care field in 1982. At this time the St Luke’s Hospice offices were situated at the Vincent Palotti Hospital in Pinelands. Then they were moved to a home in Trill Road Observatory but it became obvious that the premises were too small and with the help of the Lombardi Family Trust in 1985 the present Kenilworth property was acquired.
In September 1985 a Day Care Centre commenced operations, initially for one day a week only.
In January 1986 the Lombardi Ward opened, providing six in patient beds. This was the first unit of its kind in the Western Cape. Towards the end of 1986 the Bereavement Counselling service commenced, providing a telephone counselling follow-up service to families of deceased patients for an appropriate period.
In May 1987 approval to build a twenty bed extension was granted, following the financial support of the Hon, George Borwick. This unit, which included a large atrium, medical clinics, additional offices and a chapel, was opened on 18th January 1988 by the Administrator of the Cape Province, Mr Gene Louw. Since then unfortunately owing to the high costs of staffing such a large unit, only ten of the beds have been utilized or are able to be used.
During the time from 1989 to 1992 St Luke’s Hospice developed very rapidly into a well established facility at Kenilworth rendering palliative care to dying people and their families.
The Board of Directors then decided to take a big step forward by taking the hospice concept into the community. It was decided to encourage communities to have their own hospices, which would be branches of St Luke’s but owned and run by a committee from the community.
In October 2001, the then CEO of St Luke’s Hospice was approached by the Provincial Department of Health to open an IPU for terminally ill HIV/AIDS patients. During January 2002 a 16 Bedded ward was opened on the grounds of the Conradie Hospital Pinelands. As Conradie Hospital was decommissioned during 2003, the ward moved to Lentegeur Hospital where it still is today. At present it can accommodate 20 patients. Through the expansion of the ARV Treatment programme and the subsequent drop in the number of terminally ill AIDS patients, the in patient unit became a centre to which patients could be admitted at the start of their ARV treatment. The service in the in-patient unit became more “curative” in nature.
The spiritual support team always felt the need for a “quiet room” where patients and their relatives could go when the need was there. With the assistance of a donation of the Oasis Group it was possible for us to convert the old gazebo in the garden of the Kenilworth ward into “The Oasis” which was opened during November 2007.
During April 2009, the book “To say thank you and serve” compiled by Rosemary Hickman, was launched. This book tells “The Story of St Luke’s Hospice” but it can also be used as a broader reference document because it covers the development of Hospices throughout the world, the organisations relationships to other hospices and the Hospice Palliative Care Association.
www.stlukes.co.za

Who We Are
Anex is a children’s rights organisation advocating for the end of all forms of exploitation and abuse of children. The scope of Anex’s work involves counter-trafficking, anti-child labour and youth development. Although all three programmes are diverse in nature they are all linked in that they actively attempt to extricate all forms or situations which result in the enslavement of children.
Vision
Anex envisages a society that protects the rights of children and combats exploitation.
Mission
Anex strives to become and remain THE expert children’s rights non-profit organization in South Africa by using three inter-related programs to combat and prevent the exploitation of children:
1. Anti-child Labour
2. Counter-human Trafficking
3. Youth Development in the Central Karoo
www.anexcdw.org.za

VisionTrust is not an aid agency. We are a growing group of people with a passion to love the neediest children around the world. Many of these children are hungry, abused, sick, neglected, or ignored. We strive to meet these crucial needs, but we don’t stop there. We know children have an even greater need: the need to be loved. As you partner with VisionTrust, you will not only be a part of providing things like food, medical care, and schooling, you will be a part of bringing love to children in desperate need of help, the next generation of leaders who will one day change their country.
We accomplish our work in countries all over the world by partnering with local leaders in countries with the most need. Each of these local leaders were already working with impoverished children in their communities, but lacked the resources necessary to make a deeper impact. What these leaders lacked in assets they made up for in heart, a heart trusted and burdened by the same community they strive to help. Our goal is to provide the resources, training and ongoing support they need to change the lives of the children in their country. That’s where you come in.
We could not bring hope without you! We want you to get to know these precious children and the worlds they grow up in. Our goal is for us, to combat the injustice and poverty in our world together. We cannot do it alone.
You can join thousands of people who are passionately committed to changing the lives of more than 12,000 children worldwide. Will you take that first step to get involved today?
www.visiontrust.org