Difrax supports building of orphanage in South Africa for children with AIDS

Difrax, a trading company dealing in baby products, is further expanding its support of small-scale aid organisations that focus on deprived and sick babies and children. Since May 2003, Difrax has been supporting the building of an orphanage in Romania, initiated by the Romanian Child Aid Foundation.

Since 1 November 2003, Difrax has been supporting a second aid organisation, the Lethabo Foundation, which operates in South Africa. This foundation, run by Judith Curre (who is Dutch) and Michael Mampa (who is South African), focuses on children with AIDS. Its aim is to build a new orphanage that will serve as a reception centre, offering 24-hour care, for children infected with the HIV/AIDS virus in Soshanguve, a township situated 40 km north of Pretoria, South Africa.

A total of 6 million South Africans are infected with the HIV virus, the virus that causes AIDS. Every week about 5,000 people die of AIDS and 12,000 people become infected with it, including 1,400 babies. Over 800,000 children have lost both parents to AIDS and this number is growing by the day. AIDS affects the weakest and poorest in the world, the women who are dependent on men and who do not have either the knowledge about AIDS or the means to protect themselves against infection. AIDS has enormous social and economic consequences, because it mainly affects people in their productive years.

The new orphanage of the Lethabo Foundation will offer shelter to 60 children infected with AIDS whose families are not able to provide this care adequately themselves, because of poverty or illness. These children are currently living in a dilapidated building with few facilities, where there is only room for 15 children. 43 children are on a waiting list and are visited in their home. The aim is to have completed the new building by the middle of February.

Difrax wants to make its contribution to this good cause not only by means of financial support, but also by making available Difrax baby products.

If you would also like to make a contribution to this valuable project, please contact:

Lethabo Foundation
Judith Curre, Chairperson
Michael Mampa, Secretary
Waterpoortweg 419
1051 PZ Amsterdam
Telephone: 020-6868316
E-mail: info@lethabo.com
Website: www.lethabo.com