The year was 1998. Five resolute and visionary community members established a grassroots organisation to care for their community. Three founding members have tragically since passed. Two remain. Back then they were young adults; today they are grandparents.
Tshimane David Marakalla and Tryphosa Munnye Raseroka lead 17 staff and volunteers with passion. Passion for the betterment of every member of the community compels this unified group of selfless individuals.
GAYAAHA’s vision and mission is to provide free and quality home-based care for, in particular, orphaned and vulnerable children who are infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. Their services include care and support offerings for entire households, not just children, and prevention is a key focal point for them.
The organisation has come a long way since its humble roots when not a single volunteer received a stipend, and volunteers took to action inspired only by the love for their community. GAYAAHA is also committed to caring for their team, and they now provide a modest remuneration to their caregivers. Much appreciated volunteers remain unpaid helpers.
Almost everyone at GAYAAHA participates in the door-to-door activities undertaken by the caregivers and counselors. For many, it is in fact the favourite part of their work – introducing themselves to potential new clients, identifying new needs in homes they have been to before, detecting TB infections and related diseases then providing referrals, helping to bathe and clothe patients and clients, assisting with home cleaning, supporting patients’ proper and regular treatment, organising paperwork and documentation to access government services, spending time educating the community about HIV and all its impacts, and simply caring. This is all a deeply personal journey for everyone as some staff and volunteers have some of their own family members living with HIV.
Without question, GAYAAHA has had a positive impact on the community’s social fabric. For close to two decades, they have been fully present every single day. Theirs is an ambitious team that hopes that one day, their beloved Ga-Rankuwa Young Adults Against HIV-AIDS organisation might play a leading role not only as South Africans working in HIV and AIDS services, but also on the worldwide stage.