The DTHF Youth Centre hosted President Barack Obama on Sunday 30 June 2013.
The purpose of the event was to give the President a first hand experience of the impact PEPFAR funding has made on the lives of South Africans most vulnerable to HIV.
At 2pm Ou Kaapseweg pass was closed to traffic and helicopters were in the air with police at every intersection on the M3.
The Youth Centre was ready for the guests; art works from the youth decorated the walls and small upturned white umbrellas painted in bright designs (from the Lalela Project) were hooked onto the nomad tent that covered the walkway between the activity rooms.
Other attending dignitaries included the Health and Social Services Ministers, PEPFAR Ambassador Goosby, and our patron Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu with his daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe, who is a member of the DTHF board.
Five other non-profit organisations that have received PEPFAR funding were invited to send representatives; a senior staff person and three community members who benefit from their programmes.
Desmond Tutu TB Centre, University of Stellenbosch
Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union
National Association of Child Care Workers
Keth’impilo
Hope Education
Dr Catherine Orrell, a senior staff member, and the Archbishop were there to welcome President Obama to the Youth Centre.
The first stop was Reception where they met Dante Robbertze, the YC manager. They were shown the biometric check-in by the YC Youth Ambassador, Noncebo. The President and the Archbishop signed a poem written by Future Fighter, Fezeka.
Catherine took them on to the EduZone where the President met Education Coordinator Jen Rousseau and engaged with the youth. Aviwe performed an impromptu rap song for the President and has become famous overnight. The video of his performance has gone round the world.
The HealthZone was the next stop where youth, Dr Katherine Gill and Khanyiselo Silo, the health educator, discussed the challenges of HIV prevention with the President and Archbishop.
The President and the Archbishop then joined the main group in the larger hall for a discussion with the community representatives, Ambassador Goosby and the Ministers.
Unfortunately Prof Linda-Gail Bekker, Chief Operationas Officer, missed the Presidential visit as she was to give the plenary address at the International AIDS Society (IAS) conference in Malaysia
Catherine Orrell reported back to her:
“The President was easy to talk to and was interested not only in the youth, but in the difference PEPFAR and the SA government has made to ART in the last 5 years. He shook hands with everyone, asked a load of questions, listened to Aviwe rapping and practised saying Nonceba with the click about 15 times. He encouraged the young people in the HealthZone to make healthy choices and keep up with their education. The Archbishop was a star, as usual, and spoke very highly of the Foundation and our staff. There were group photos taken at reception and in each zone by the White House photographer. Dante scored a presidential pen during the signing of Fezeka’s poem!”
Dante and Catherine were our shining stars, as were the youth; but none of this would have happened without the hard work and commitment of each member of the DTHF family who have created the outstanding reputation the DTHF enjoys.
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