Introduction

Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Kwazulu Natal has 3 distinct areas. The lowland region which lies next to the Indian Ocean is very narrow in the south but widens as it moves into northern Kwazulu Natal. The central area is called the Natal Midlands. This is a plateau with hills rising in the west. There are also two mountainous areas; the Drakensberg Mountains in the west and the Lebombo Mountains in the north. The province’s largest river, the Tugela River, runs from the west to the east cutting through the center of the province.

According to the Wikipedia, Kwazulu Natal “has the largest population (about 8.6 million) of any state in South Africa, with resources, such as water, coal, minerals and agriculture, along with timber, beef, dairy products, maize, poultry and fruit. Durban is the largest port in Africa. The province also has the most comprehensive tourist infrastructure in the country.

However, despite the presence of these resources, Kwazulu Natal like much of South Africa faces the growing problem of HIV/AIDS and poverty which disproportionally impacts the blacks in the rural communities due to the lingering effects of the now former Apartheid system.

Poverty

KwaZulu-Natal has the biggest collective poverty gap of all the South African states.

Kwazulu Natal has the highest poverty and unemployment rate of all the provinces in South Africa.

HIV & AIDS

HIV & AIDS continues to plague South Africa. Today, more than 5.5 million South Africans are infected with HIV with 1000 people dying each day from AIDS related causes. 71% of the deaths of those aged 15 – 49 years old are attributed to AIDS. There are more than 1.2 million orphans due to AIDS.

Once again Kwazulu Natal has the highest prevalence rate (39%) of all the provinces in South Africa. Sadly, the South African women are most impacted, as they are 4 times more likely than men to have the disease and over 30% of all pregnant women are infected.

The problems of poverty and HIV/AIDS seem to go hand in hand. It is in this situation that Zimele believes it can make a genuine difference in the lives of so many who see no hope.

Hope for the Region

Traditionally, blacks in South Africa grew up in an environment that encouraged a economic and social dependence upon others rather than independence. While they now have more constitutional freedom, very few blacks has been able to achieve economic and emotional freedom.

Zimele hopes to turn around the current conditions by offering long term solutions rather than short term temporary ones. Many programs in the region currently do little more than offer free food without teaching people to be productive or providing jobs for them to earn an income. Zimele believes in empowering and healing these people through its programs while building a sense of community, accountability, and justice for women and children. In other words, the primary goals is to build hope. By developing this spirit of hope, Zimele hopes to give the Kwazulu Natal region a new beginning.

Zimele’s philosophy revolves around the goal of becoming self sufficient. Through improved education and community driven mentorship programs, micro finance driven capital projects, and the removal of social and cultural stumbling blocks, Zimele strives to see changes in the lives of South Africans.