A Success Story: The Etafeni Trust Fit for - SAfAIDS

When replicating such a programme in your community:
Find out what the causes of social ills in your community are, for instance, if there is
high rate of drug abuse or teen pregnancy, could this be
• due to too much idle time on the hands of young people who cannot afford
to go to school, or who have not been able to pursue school past a certain
level?
• due to low knowledge levels on protective and risk issues, hence they are
unable to access condoms, practice safe sex or related services?
Design a programme that addresses the causal and contributory factors
6.2 Community Ownership and Buy-In Secured
This ownership began at the commencement of the programme, and was reflected
through various modes. For example, the building which houses Etafeni (including
the ‘Fit for Life. For for Work’ offices) was built by unemployed members of the
community, as a way of providing employment (stipends were provided for those
who undertook the work), getting construction skills into the community, as well as
encouraging ownership of the project and the facilities in the long-run.
Almost 90% of the staff at Etafeni, including those who run the Fit for Life
programme, are from the Nyanga community. This has a significant influence in
the level of acceptance of the programme in the community; and subsequently a
significantly positive influence on the success and sustainability of the programme
during its implementation. The centre in itself has created employment opportunities
for the community.
6.3 Addressing Multiple Causal Factors: Integrated and Comprehensive
There is a thorough integration of the Fit For Life, Fit for Work Programme into
the work and vision of the entire Etafeni Trust, with cross-support between the
programmes. An example is that some recruits of the programme were identified
while within Etafeni’s income-generating programme for HIV positive women, creating
a cross-programmme amalgamation in the organisation. The programme, since its
inception has sought to regularly identify additional factors which influence SRH and
the economic status outcome of beneficiaries, and explore integration of responses, to
ensure holistic impact.
Meanwhile, confidence building, self-esteem enhancement and HIV prevention and
access related issues have been integrated across several programme dimensions:
• Income-generation opportunities availed: Young women who are living
with HIV and have been either ostracised or abandoned by their family/
community and in dire socio-economic state are offered opportunities to
attend the income-generating project, and this is integrated into the Fit
For Life, Fit for Work Programme. This has supported opportunities for
entrepreneurial pursuits by graduates, post-training, in the advent of formal
employment not being secured
27