Mawande Jack

A visit to a centre that accommodates children infected with HIV and orphans has touched the mayor of the Swedish city of Göteborg, Anneli Hulthen, during her visit there yesterday.

“My visit there, where I interacted with the children, has made a lasting impression.

“I was so touched that I will refer the House of Resurrection to people in Sweden who are engaged in this kind of work,” the mayor said, as she inspected the six compounds where the children are looked after.

The House of Resurrection Haven in Salsoneville houses about 33 children, mostly from families that were wiped out by the pandemic.

“We deal with abandoned children, those who are infected with HIV and those who are affected.

“Here they are being looked after by foster mothers and volunteers,” said the centre’s administrator, Anglican Reverend Nicolette Leonard.

The place was established by the Anglican Church initially as a haven for adult HIV-Aids patients, who came there from various areas of the city, desperate for help.

A few years ago, it was converted into a foster care home.

Despite the pressure to care for the sick and orphaned children, no support was offered by the Eastern Cape government.

“We receive nothing from government. We get a little from the municipality by way of a grant-in-aid, and the community helps with gifts and donations,” Leonard said.

Some months during the year the haven is without any support, except the foster grants for nine of the children.

The haven needs more support from volunteers in the surrounding northern area communities.

“The spirit of volunteerism in this country is lacking. People who are ready to volunteer always come from overseas.”

Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron said this was “one of the most successfully run and well-managed projects which is supported by the Nelson Mandela metro”.

The Göteborg delegation is expected to spend the whole week in Port Elizabeth to renew the city’s partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.

mawandej@thenewage.co.za