Our Partners
Organizations that work with Mpilonhle to help us carry out our mission ...
Here is a list and brief description on each of our partners and how they help us bring aid and education to better the lives of those less fortunate.
KZN Department of Health
Mpilonhle works closely with the KZN Department of Health. Mpilonhle staff refers patients to DOH clinics, and assist the DOH to provide care to community members (as as the vision clinics). Mpilonhle staff also provides training to DOH staff, and DOH provides training to Mpilonhle staff. DOH staff assists with Mpilonhle special projects, such as the vision clinic. The current Minister of Health for KZN, Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo, was previously a Board member of Mpilonhle.
KZN Department of Education
Mpilonhle works closely with the Department of Education, as a majority of Mpilonhle’s activities take place in DOE facilities. Mpilonhle signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DOE in September 2008, and has contracts with each of the 12 schools it is currently working in.
The KZN Department of Social Development
Mpilonhle refers clients eligible for government grants or protective services to the local offices of the KZN Department of Social Development. Staff at the Department of Social Development than assist learners or other community members to obtain their identification documents, or process applications for grants.
The Department of Social Development especially assists in this effort by sending their mobile unit to the same schools that Mpilonhle serves in order to process claims.
South Africa Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC)
Mpilonhle works closely with SACBC to provide antiretroviral therapy to persons- including students - identified by Mpilonhle as HIV infected. SACBC works throughout the district, using churches and parish houses – to hold clinics. The large number of sites used for clinics facilitates access, and Mpilonhle coordinate with SACBC to assure that learners and community members with HIV are cared for at the nearest clinic. The SACBC Toga lab also provides testing required for antiretroviral therapy free of charge to Mpilonhle clients.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The Executive Director of Mpilonhle, Michael Bennish, MD, is on the staff of this Department. The Department sends graduate students to work in the program, and Department Faculty assist with program development and design, and analysis and monitoring of results.
The KZN Department of Social Development
Khanya Africa is a non-profit organization with works with volunteer health workers to provide care to the underprivileged and the underserved. Mpilonhle helps provide services at the volunteer clinics that Khanya Africa operates on weekends.
Star Schools
Mpilonhle works side-by-side with Star Schools at many school sites. Like Mpilonhle, Star School aims to reduce HIV incidence among students, and to help them lead more productive lives. The two programs – Star School and Mpilonhle – serve to reinforce each others message. Star Schools has a ½ time staff member at each school it serves, and Mpilonhle staff provides technical assistance to this person as needed.
Educational Development Center
The Educational Development Center is one of the largest non-profit organizations dedicated to innovations n international education. EDC designs, delivers and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic opportunity. EDC was an original partner in the Mpilonhle program, and has been essential in helping design the curricula that Mpilonhle uses, especially helping adapt existing materials on health education and HIV prevention to the context and timing of the work that Mpilonhle does.
Grassroot Soccer
Mpilonhle has built a strong partnership with Grassroot Soccer to implement an innovative peer-based mentorship and health education program in partner schools. A key component of this program is the utilization of Grassroot Soccer's "Skillz" curriculum. This approach helps young people engage in relevant and important discussion about life, take small steps to achieve their goals, be resillient when faced with challenges, and protect themselves and others from HIV and AIDS.