RAPHAEL CENTRE - Grahamstown

The Raphael Centre was founded in 1999 by Jane Adar and Reverend Denise Herbert who both saw the dire need for an HIV/AIDS centre in the Grahamstown area. The Centre got its name from the Arch Angel of Healing, Raphael, and began as a small daily support group for about thirty individuals suffering from either HIV or AIDS. During a time when the government remained in limbo as to how to facilitate testing clinics for those who wanted to know their status, the Raphael Centre took their own initiative. The local Anglican Church provided the young NGO with infrastructure in the form of a location and building despite the Raphael Centre not having any particular religious affiliation. In 2002 Jabu van Niekerk took Jane’s place as director of the Raphael Centre and to this day  

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continues to passionately manage the Raphael Centre. Under Jabu’s management the Raphael Centre has transformed into a multi-programmed and successful endeavour. The programmes that have been created and maintained during Jabu’s career at the Raphael Centre reach approximately 700 individuals every month. These programmes include: Volunteer Counselling and Testing (VCT); Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT); Emergency Food Support; Education and Training; Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC); and Advocacy.