ABOUT SAHAC
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Need. South Africa has the highest number of HIV infections of any country in the world:  5.7 million infected out of 47.9 million total population.  As many as 1,000 people die daily from AIDS-related illnesses.  An estimated 1,500 are newly infected daily.  More than 1 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.  Thirty two percent of pregnant women have the HIV virus. 

Call.  The prophet Isaiah calls God’s people to break the bonds of wickedness, oppression and affliction (Isaiah 58).  Jesus says that what his followers do to the “least of these,” we have done to him (Matthew 25).  The Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Collaboration (SAHAC) seeks to offer a passionate, Christian response to the affliction of HIV/AIDS, beginning in South Africa.  

Goal. Reduce the rate of HIV infection by 30-50% within five years in participating communities…an aggressive goal but in keeping with the two-thirds reduction in Uganda in less than a decade. (We realize the SAHAC program would not be the only variable in this reduction, but the magnitude of the goal focuses us and captures community attention.)

Aim. Seed a youth movement—a positive counter epidemic—in which youth embrace the only behaviors that eliminate the risk of HIV infection—postponing sex until marriage and keeping sex within marriage—AND make the case with their friends to do the same.

Approach. Catalyze the various community sectors—church, school, health care, government, business—to work in concert to turn the tide of beliefs, values and behaviors that contribute to HIV infection. We are currently working actively with schools, churches and businesses.

Partnership. SAHAC is currently a collaboration of 9 North American and South African not-for-profits, churches and businesses, each bringing their "A-Game"—what they do best—to the initiative.

Legal Structure. We are incorporated in South Africa as a tax-exempt Section 21 public benefit corporation, the most stringent non-profit organization (NPO) structure in South Africa. In the US, our finance and administration is handled by Partners Worldwide, a Michigan 501(c)3, and one of our Partner Organizations. The Board currently comprises two executive directors of our pilot project team in South Africa and seven non-executive directors representing Partner Organizations.

Genesis. SAHAC was born out of a strategic planning meeting of the Association of Evangelical Relief & Development Association (AERDO) in 2004. The pilot project was launched in March 2006, in Orlando East, one of the historic Soweto Townships, in Johannesburg.

SAHAC is a Member of Christian Connections for International Health http://www.ccih.org/