Making a difference: HIVSA's director on working with Charlize Theron's Outreach Project
HIVSA is a local organisation founded in 2002 that focuses on addressing socio-economic and health issues in the context of high HIV and AIDS cases.
Last month, its programme director, Neo Mohajane, attended Charlize Theron's Africa Outreach Project block party.
The actor's organisation is one of the donors for HIVSA and Theron interacts with its members.
HIVSA is a local organisation that was founded in 2002 and focuses on socio-economic and health issues in the context of high HIV and AIDS cases.
One of the organisation's donors is Charlize Theron's Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), and the actor occasionally interacts with members of HIVSA. The CTAOP, founded in 2007, "invests in and advances the health and safety of young people in Southern Africa," according to the initiative's website.
Last month, Theron invited HIVSA programme director Neo Mohajane to her CTAOP block party in Los Angeles for a panel discussion, along with SA filmmaker Miché Williams.
Theron thanked the two speakers on Instagram:
"And from the bottom of our hearts: THANK YOU to Miché Williams (@_miche_williams) and Neo Mohajane (@letelemohajane) for flying in from South Africa with your wide-open hearts and deep wisdom to illuminate your lived experiences and what it really means to be part of CTAOP."
Other stars, such as Lesley-Ann Brandt, Thuso Mbedu, Noxolo Dlamini, Glen Powell, and Daisy Edgar-Jones, were also in attendance.
Mohajane tells News24:
"It was awe-inspiring to be seated next to Hollywood stars that one sees on international screens and to have them listen to your narration of the experiences of young people in South Africa and their vulnerability to HIV infection."
"Charlize spoke about the work that CTAOP has been doing in South Africa in partnerships with organisations such as HIVSA," Mohajane adds.
"The delegates were keen to understand what challenges young people face in South Africa and how we are contributing to eradicating HIV," she says.
Mohajane spoke about escalating teenage pregnancy rates in SA, HIV infection rates, particularly for girls and women, intimate partner violence, femicide and youth unemployment.
HIVSA and CTAOP's partnership started in 2013. Theron's organisation also supports HIVSA's Choma magazine, an online platform aimed at young women that offers advice on HIV Prevention, GBV, health, relationships, pregnancy, etc.
Choma users can also ask moderators specific questions, and they can access their services at physical locations in certain communities.
Mohajane says that the partnership with CTAOP has "enabled HIVSA and Choma magazine to dream big and enter into the space of digital health interventions"
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The invitation to the CTAOP block party came when Choma magazine needed funding to continue providing its service.
"The CTAOP has remained a valued partner even though it no longer funds Choma magazine. They continue to champion Choma magazine and link the organisation and the online magazine to opportunities that enhance and allow us to reach our mission,"
Mohajane explains.
A post shared by Choma (@choma_mag)
"She is a fantastic human being, truly caring about the young people and future of South Africa," Mohajane says.
"When she comes out for visits, she is happiest when she engages with young people and understands their experiences so she can represent them as authentically as she can."
HIVSA is based in Johannesburg and has projects in Tshwane, Sedibeng, North West, and Limpopo.
"HIVSA strengthens and mentors community-based organisations and other structures to implement various initiatives," Mohajane says.
The organisation also tries to facilitate access to health-and social services for communities.
Mohajane says:
Our ultimate focus is to empower individuals and communities to be self- sustainable through developing their capacities to solve and take ownership of the socio-economic and health challenges they face.
They also had a heavy alcohol use screening project between 2019 and 2022. Some of the other areas that HIVSA also focuses include preventing HIV/AIDS in vulnerable populations, accelerating training of community health workers and social employment.