3. ABOUTWWS
Our mission is to help
the people in our
community to enjoy the
best possible quality
of life and to generate
opportunity for young
people so that they are
able to make positive
contributions to society
and realise their
ambitions
Something every
human being deserves
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4. We are an
organisation born out of
community need
We are a grassroots organisation, shaped by members
of the community and inspired by the dedication
of those who have committed to helping those most
vulnerable in the community – Re a Thusana – it
means ‘We help each other’. It is a philosophy
that runs deep, it influences everything that we do.
It is our firm belief that only by empowering
individuals and families can we expect to achieve
sustainable social change.
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6. Deeply Committed to our National Plan
“We have created a home where
everybody feels free yet bounded
to others; where everyone
embraces their full potential.
We are proud to be a community
that cares”
National Development Plan 2030
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7. WWS is proud to
be contributing
to this vision. Our
work is dedicated to
tackling a number
of the challenges
expressed in
the National
Development Plan
for our communities
in the Waterberg.
Just like the plan and its
vision we have integrated
the themes of gender and
young people through our
work and we have created
dedicated programmes
to help young people at
the key stages of their life
development.
The development of
capability, acceptance of
responsibility and care for
the community underpin
everything that we do.
Like the plan we work to a
framework that guides our
decisions.
We continually review
and refine our framework
to make sure that we are
focused on doing the right
things; the things that will
ensure that we are aligned
with the National Strategic
Direction and working
in collaboration with our
government and partners
as we address the key
focus areas of the plan.
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8. Wherever possible
and at the appropriate
time we look to
transfer ownership
and responsibility
to the people and
organisations of our
community.
We always look for
opportunities to partner
so that we can expand
the impact of our work.
The local context and
dynamics are always
taken into account when
shaping our programmes
and in the way we develop
communication and
engagement.
We will always provide
care to those in need
and it will remain a free
service to the vulnerable
and disadvantaged in our
immediate vicinity.
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9. Our Guiding Principles
The work we do and the
approaches that we follow
take a holistic perspective
– we go beyond the
obvious symptoms and
effects to understand the
many dynamics affecting
any situation.
We develop new
services and
capabilities in a way
that allows them to be
leveraged by others
through innovative
business models.
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10. Tackling this epidemic is at the heart of our mission. Our work started
with a simple desire to raise awareness in a community devastated
by HIV/AIDS and that continues today, 15 years later. In addition to
that we have grown our capabilities through our field work and our
collaboration with partners and we have developed a holistic approach
to tackling this challenge.
Not only do we need to make the treatment available we also need to
make sure that people – the infected and the affected – understand the
importance of adhering to the treatment, the implications of not doing
so – and how to live the best possible quality of life they can.
This means that they need to:
Know their status
Understand the implications of being HIV positive
Take responsibility in their sexual relationships
Persist with their treatment
Set good examples to others
In our programmes today we cover welfare of individuals and the
community through many lenses. Our focus is still on HIV/AIDS and
related life threatening diseases but we know that we can’t tackle this
in isolation of the needs of the community and in particular its young
people – our future.
Contributing to a Global Mission
“It will be impossible
to end the epidemic with
bringing HIV treatment to
who need it”
90-90-90
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11. Powerful momentum is now building
towards a new narrative on HIV treatment and
a new, final, ambitious, but achievable target:
BY 2020 BY 2020 BY 2020
of all people
living with HIV
will know their
HIV status.
of all people
with diagnosed
HIV infection
will receive
sustained
antiretroviral
therapy.
of all people
receiving
antiretroviral
therapy will
have viral
suppression.
“Ending the AIDS epidemic
will inspire broader global health
and development efforts,
demonstrating what can be achieved
through global solidarity,
evidence-based action
and multisectoral partnerships”
UNAIDS, October 2014
hout
all
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12. Our teams have developed
significant expertise in a
number of fields which
we have organised
into three ‘Departments’.
Our Work
While each department has its
specific areas of focus the three
work together in a collaborative
and tightly interconnected way.
The programmes we select and
manage, and the services we
deliver, address many different
challenges within our community.
Department
EDUCATION
&AWARENESS
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15. THIS PART OF THE ORGANISATION IS
CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH TREATMENT
AND CARE OF PATIENTS WITH HIV/AIDS
All of the expected services that are required by people
suffering with this life threatening illness are available here to
our community. This goes well beyond their essential medical
needs and the word ‘care’ has great meaning for us.
By providing Hospice & Day respite at WWS we are
able to ease the burdon for beds already stretched at
the hospital.
We are proud of our multidisciplinary approach to treatment
and care. It allows us to treat our patients holistically and
match the service we provide not only to their medical needs
but also to their personal circumstances.
Through our approach we are able to intervene at the earliest
opportunity and in the right way. Wherever possible we are
working to ensure that the treatment that is prescribed is
given as soon as possible and that the patient adheres to the
programme set for them.
We know that can be very hard for some and so we
supplement the medicinal care we provide with counselling
and a strong support network – so that no matter what
the challenge we will make sure that medicines are taken.
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National Development Plan
90-90-90
PROGRAMMES
RESPONSIBILITIES
HOME
BASED CARE
HOSPICE
AND RESPITE
Progressively improve
TB prevention
Significantly reduce
prevalence of non-
communicable chronic
disease
Everyone must have
access to an equal
standard of care
“HIV treatment is a
unique tool in the AIDS
response, preventing
illness and death,
averting new infections
and saving money”
16. OUR AIM IS ALWAYS TO GIVE PEOPLE THE
CHANCE TO LIVE FULFILLED LIVES AND IN
A COMMUNITY SO HEAVILY IMPACTED BY
HIV/AIDS THAT REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL
OF SENSITIVITY AND EMPATHY.
It means that we have to tackle the myths and confusion,
translate complex medical information into everyday
language and build enormous levels of trust.
The only way we will be successful is if those infected
are willing to take that first step of knowing their
status. That can be a very frightening thing to do
when everything you have heard so far suggests
that a positive result means certain death. It also
requires the support of their families – which
means it is equally important that they
understand the situation and why taking their
medication is so important.
This requires us to really understand our
patients and their challenges and to have
a range of techniques to get the right
information and awareness to people in
the right way. A key source of information and
insight is the outreach programme that we have
developed in partnership with Bridges of Hope.
Through this programme we are able to get across the
information that is vital to understand to minimise the risk
of infection, in a way that removes the fear and confusing
language. This may be a serious issue and one not to be taken
lightly but that doesn’t mean education can’t be fun. We bring
in role playing and interaction so that education happens in a
more positive and enjoyable manner.
PROGRAMMES
RESPONSIBILITIES
STEPPING
FORWARD
SUPPORT
GROUPS
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17. Our bright yellow ‘gig rig’ is well known in Vaalwater
Our teams can be found at many public events, taking the
message out to people in safe environments – proven to
increase the likelihood that they will come forward
and be tested so that they know their status.
For those who receive the unwelcome
and frightening news that they are
positive we have members of
our team on the spot ready to
provide vital counselling and
guidance. From the very
beginning those affected
know they are not going
through this alone.
This is our Stepping
Forward Programme
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National Development Plan
90-90-90
Significantly reduce
prevalence of non-
communicable chronic
disease
“To put in place a
comprehensive response
to end the epidemic,
concerted efforts will
be needed to eliminate
stigma, discrimination
and social exclusion”
18. Development starts at pre-
school age.The youngest
beneficiaries of WWS spend
each morning with us.
By providing a safe place for
these children to play and
learn we are also helping
those who care for them –
and in many cases it’s a
brother or sister, aunt or uncle,
even grandparents, rather
than the natural parent.
People who have taken on
this responsibility and need
this precious time to manage
their lives, receive their own
education or earn a living.
THE EARLIER WE CAN IMPACT PEOPLE’S LIVES THE BETTER AND SO
WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT DEDICATED TO THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITY. THESE ARE SOMETIMES THE MOST VULNERABLE
AND THE ONES WHOSE LIVES WE CAN TURN ROUND THE MOST.
We Live in a community
where unemployment is the
norm, where the stigma of
HIV/AIDS is ever present and
where in many cases the
responsibility for bringing up
the children of families rest
with children.
The temptation to give
in to an ‘easy’ way out
is high.
This is why we run youth
programmes and provide
care for every child from
pre-school to young adult.
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National Development Plan
Make early childhood
development a top priority
All children should have
at least 2 years pre-school
education
Between 80-90% of
learners should complete
12 years of schooling and/
or vocational training
19. Vaalwater doesn’t offer very
many recreational facilities
and sometimes the lack
of anything constructive to
do leads to young people
succumbing to temptation.
So many have ended up
battling with drugs and
alcohol problems and
dependencies that end up
seeing them on a downward
spiral where crime and
violence become just a way of
life – a matter of survival of the
fittest. We offer these vulnerable
young people an alternative
path. Over the years we have
developed youth programmes
that have had a lasting impact
on many lives.
Some of these programmes
are gender specific – we
understand the different
challenges and needs of
our young men and women
and make sure that they are
supported in the right way to
each play their part in shaping
their community and creating
opportunity for themselves.
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PROGRAMMES
RESPONSIBILITIES
LADIES
WITH MISSION
DROP
IN CENTER
BOYS 2 MEN
GRASS
ROOTS
SOCCER
B2M
FOOTBALL
CLUB
LWM
GAME
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT
20. One of the most
powerful things about
our programmes is that
the people running them
have all been touched
in some way by the
challenges we deal with.
They have faced tough
choices, suffered extreme
hardship and come
through everything with
their self-belief and self-
respect not only intact, they
have become ambassadors
in their community and
some have gone on to
University or started their
own businesses.
The majority of people
who become involved with
WWS never fully leave
us, some have turned
down attractive offers of
employment and dedicated
themselves to giving back
to their community.
We are a Family
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21. We are justifiably proud
of them and it reinforces
our commitment to keep
growing as an organisation
and to always respond in
the right way to meet local
needs.
Our aim is for WWS to
remain an organisation
for the community, run
by the community.
Alongside this however
we want to make it
possible for other
organisations – whether
for profit, government or
fellow NPO’s – to leverage
the capabilities that we
have developed.
This is an important
part of our strategy
and one that is now
starting to become
a reality.
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22. 20
THE EMPOWERMENT CENTRE
MARKS AN IMPORTANT NEW
MILESTONE IN OUR EVOLUTION
The Empowerment Centre
The proportion of adults in
rural areas working should
rise from 29% to 40%
National Development Plan
23. We have always seen the opportunities for us to play a
part in helping people develop their own businesses.
Several of our own projects have long held the potential for
further development and to have an identity of their own.
At the time of publication we are busy establishing
our new Empowerment Centre. Built by WWS on our
own land we will use this new building to provide the
basic infrastructure for a small number of new micro
businesses to start up.
With our support and training from experts in co-
operatives and small business development they will
have the opportunity to make their own visions a reality.
This is as exciting for WWS as it is for the new business
owners. For us it also signifies a new business model as
we will earn revenue from the leasing of the infrastructure,
allowing us to help more people in more ways.
And we can look forward to seeing our community
blossom as more opportunities lead to better quality
of life and more reasons to invest in this region.
The Waterberg Waves
Community Radio Station
will connect the local
community with many
activities and events that
often go unnoticed yet have
a positive impact on the
community daily lives.
The addition of this
communications channel
will provide a valuable
resource to our current
programmes as well as to
our community.
The introduction of a local
station provides a voice
for those living in the
Waterberg, strengthening
and empowering those
who have previously gone
unheard.
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NOW WE CAN DO SOMETHING MORE THAN
DREAM ABOUT THAT VISION AND POTENTIAL
Coming Soon - Waterberg Waves Community Radio
24. 22
Meet the Team
LESIBAMA
SIBE CEO
ANNAHMU
BUNDA TREATMEN
T&CARE
ZACHARIAH
SEKHU SKILLS, D
EVELOPMENT&E
MPOWERMENT
PENKIEDIT
SELA FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
JULYLETSE
BE EDUCATION &
AWARENESS
25. 23
Work can mean many
things – a response to a
calling, something we do
out of our own good will,
employment in return for
a salary and partnering in
community development.
WWS works with
the marginalised,
underprivileged and
vulnerable communities,
most of whom have given
up hope due to lack of
employment opportunities
and constant disease
challenges.
We already do many things
that we are proud of –
providing the opportunity
for our beneficiaries to take
the lead in running the
organisation, developing
the right work ethics and
mentality, understanding
and meeting our obligations
with our partners,
developing and retaining
the required skills for the
benefit of the organisation,
and making sure that we
have effective systems and
procedures in place.
Against all odds we have
seen hope restored in
communities and we believe
that many of our practices
would be valuable to others
tackling similar challenges.
We are excited to be able to
start sharing what we have
learned along our journey
with others.
IN THE WORDS OF OUR CEO
“We look forward to an inspiring and valuable future”
These intentions represent
the strategic direction that we
will be taking here at WWS:
Building more
partnerships locally
with both private and
public entities
Building a sustainable
organisation
Managing,
retaining and growing
established relationships
with WWS partners
Running
impactful advocacy
programmes for the
work WWS does
Lesiba Masibe
27. Maintaining WWS and continuing to
develop opportunities for our community as
well as shape new life saving programmes
requires continued investment and revenue
generation.
We take our responsibility to become
semi self-sufficient seriously but we know
realistically that we will also always depend
on the generosity and foresight of others.
We are fortunate to have a highly
supportive network of partners who share
our ambitions and as we grow our services
and capabilities we will be very interested
in exploring new relationships and ventures
that will ensure we are able to guarantee
this region the future it deserves.
Our Work is Evolving
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National Development Plan
“Our new story is open ended with temporary destinations,
only for new paths to open up once more”
