April 2009

The issue of HIV&AIDS has always been one that is close to the heart of FleetWatch, and in line with this the magazine decided that in 2008, instead of giving Christmas gifts to corporate clients, we would give an AIDS home, Sparrow Village, the money that would otherwise be spent on the clients’ behalf. 

Sparrow Village is a home that provides care for both children and adults suffering from the effects of HIV&AIDS, whether it be having the virus or having had their lives affected by it, and many of the children at Sparrow Village are AIDS orphans. The home is situated in Maraisburg, Roodepoort and was founded by Reverend Corine McClintock in 1992. 

McClintock, who was previously a successful nurse, founded the home on the basis of being a hospice for the terminally ill HIV&AIDS sufferers as well as a home for the orphans that reside at Sparrow Village today. Sparrow Village started when McClintock took in three men who were suffering from AIDS in order to provide care from them. 

She poured her heart and soul into the project and Sparrow Village grew from there, now supporting 94 adults and 280 destitute and terminally ill children. Of these 374 residents, 95% of the children are HIV positive and all of the adults have AIDS. 

FleetWatch chose Sparrow Village because government subsidies have been cut to a number of smaller homes and ministries, leaving them in dire straits. Sparrow Village is one such home and is a devout and dedicated caretaker for the ill and orphaned. As such, the village was chosen as the recipient of FleetWatch’s Christmas 2008 donation. 

The soccer team, Moroka Swallows, were also at the handover. The Moroka Swallows are partners of Sparrow Village and are very involved in the home. Often the team gives of its time to come and play soccer with the children and to interact with them, giving many of the children opportunities they would never otherwise have. 

The donation was very well received by all at Sparrow Village, children, adults and management alike. “The donation has helped us so much in cutting our costs here at the village and providing much needed nutrition to the AIDS adults and children,” remarks McClintock. The children were ecstatic and enjoyed the day’s festivities, especially the pizza that was given out for lunch! 

“It is only through people like you that we are able to continue this vital work of caring for the destitute and terminally ill affected and infected by HIV&AIDS,” adds McClintock. Vital work it is, and long may the hard work of these caring members of our society continue.