HIV/AIDS is one of the most critical issues facing South Africa today. There are over 5 million people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, more than anywhere else in the world, and the disease kills a thousand South Africans every day.
The effect on communities is devastating: there are currently 1.7 million orphans in South Africa, mostly as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and by 2015 it is predicted that 2.5 million children will be orphaned. If we don’t act quickly, we may lose an entire generation to HIV/AIDS.
The extent of the epidemic and the destiny of Africa will largely depend on how we respond and invest in Africa's young people now. When a young person knowingly and willingly engages in behaviours that could result in HIV transmission, they do so out of a lack of hope or vision for their future. To stop this downward spiral, we need to transform the hearts, minds and souls of young people. We need to instill in them a great sense of self-worth and a strong vision for their bright futures so that they will not subject themselves to risk-taking behaviour.
KwaZulu-Natal
There are more people living with HIV in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa than anywhere else in the world. In some communities within Kwa-Zulu Natal up to 60 percent of people between the ages of 16 and 45 are HIV-positive. This is the region in which Oaktree’s response is focused.