We’ve all heard about the AIDS pandemic in Africa, but unless one has witnessed the situation at first hand, it is impossible to comprehend the scale of the human tragedy that lies behind the statistics.
The figures themselves are overwhelming. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the region of the world most affected by HIV & AIDS, 2.3 million people have died in the past year. 25 million people are living with HIV including 2 million children under the age of 15.
Three–quarters of a million children have been orphaned by Aids in South Africa alone. In areas like Nkandla, in the heart of rural Zululand, a generation of children are growing up either without parents or with a mother or father too ill to work or care for them.
Pell & Bales first learned about these children when Simon Pell saw a documentary, The Orphans of Nkandla, which was screened on BBC 2 in May 2004. He was so moved by the plight of the orphans that the following day, he obtained a copy of the film from the programme makers, Deborah Shipley and Brian Woods, and made arrangements to ensure that every member of Pell & Bales staff in London and Bedford attended a screening.
Inspired by what they saw, the staff at Pell & Bales have been raising money since 2004 to send to Nkandla through donations, sponsored events, and office collections.
HELP THE ORPHANS OF NKANDLA - SPONSOR THE WALK BY MAKING A DONATION TODAY.
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2004 - BIKE RIDE
On 3 December 2004 a team of staff from Pell & Bales undertook a 58 mile sponsored bike ride from the company’s Bedford site to the London office. A total of 15 staff took part in the ride and in excess of £3,500 was raised for The Orphans of Nkandla Trust
2005 – WALK
In October 2005 a team of staff from Pell & Bales, led by Simon Pell, walked 100 miles across the South Downs of England to raise money for the Orphans of Nkandla. Over £13,000 was raided and the money spent on food parcels, school books and medicines.
2006 – TRIPS
May 2006 - Simon Pell visits the Orphans of Nkandla.
>> Simon Pell visits Aids project in South Africa
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