Quins Charity

In September 2008, an exciting two year partnership was launched between Harlequins and HOPEHIV. Former Harlequins and Springbok captain André Vos has been involved with the charity for several years and is heading up the partnership, inspiring players, staff, sponsors and supporters to get involved. Vos tells us a bit about HOPEHIV and how Quins is helping to help create genuine hope and opportunity for some of the most vulnerable young people on the planet.

“As a South African, I’d always known about AIDS and wondered what I could do to help.   People losing their lives, children being orphaned, poverty and illiteracy: it all looked hopeless. Then, a few years ago, I met a guy called Phil Wall.  He challenged me to think in a different way. What if, instead of being a problem, AIDS orphans could be part of the solution?  What if we equip community organisations to teach business and vocational skills to older orphans and vulnerable youth?  What if these new entrepreneurs build up their communities and help younger children in desperate need?

I accepted the challenge, and became an ambassador for HOPEHIV, the charity Phil founded.  I’ve visited some of the projects we support, I am amazed that people who have so little themselves are ready to give so much.  This is not just fluffy, feel-good stuff: HOPEHIV is providing genuine grounds for real hope.

WHAT IS HOPEHIV?

HOPEHIV supports some of the millions of children orphaned or affected by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, who are often dismissed as victims. But HOPEHIV believes that, given the opportunity, these young people have the potential to change Africa’s future from the bottom up.

HOPEHIV works with community-based projects to generate real hope through emotional and social support, education, economic empowerment, and child rights.

HOW IS QUINS HELPING?

Over the course of the partnership Quins are raising money to support economic empowerment projects, such as:
- Valuable Girls in Zambia
- Aids Care and Education Trust in Northern Uganda
- Malawi Consol Homes

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

We’ve got all sorts of ideas up our sleeves for Quins to take on as a family in support of HOPEHIV, so watch this space for more details. In the meantime, here are some of the ways you can pitch in:
- Sign up for the HOPEHIV newsletter, and keep in the loop…
- Make a regular donation to HOPEHIV through a monthly Direct Debit.
- Take a peek at the quick and easy ways you can take action for HOPEHIV on their website. If you’d like to sound out your ideas, email Lindsay Palmier at lindsay@hopehiv.org.  Then check out their resources, download what you need, and get stuck in.
- Are you a teacher? Read up on The Social Entrepreneurs Project (SEP) and find out how you can introduces entrepreneurial skills and social awareness to your classroom, and raise money for HOPEHIV at the same time. Email Catherine Hedges at catherine@hopehiv.org to discuss getting started on the SEP with advice and teaching resources.
- Tell your company about HOPEHIV and its tailor-made corporate partnerships. Contact Mark Glen on mark@hopehiv.org if you’d like to discuss how your company might partner with Africa’s generation of hope.

Quins means all of us: you, me, the players, the staff and the sponsors. HOPEHIV selects projects that make each pound punch above its weight, so a little bit of effort from us will go a long way. Please join us in helping to make this partnership a huge success.

Thanks very much,”

André Vos

Visit www.HOPEHIV.org for more information about the charity, or contact Lindsay Palmier at lindsay@hopehiv.org with any questions you might have.

Registered charity 1079385