AS the world commemorated World AIDS Day on Monday, December 1, the Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust (HACT) celebrated 35 years of transforming lives across KZN through healthcare, education and empowerment.

CEO of HACT Candace Moolman said for the centre, these years have been about restoring hope, healing and giving unconditional love, by serving communities across the province with compassion and commitment.

Founded in 1990 by members of Hillcrest Methodist Church and Holy Trinity Anglican Church, HACT began as a small group of volunteers determined to respond to the growing HIV epidemic with practical care and faith-inspired compassion.

Moolman said what started as a home-based outreach and education campaign, has grown into one of South Africa’s most respected NPOs, serving thousands of individuals and families each year through its health, education and empowerment programmes.

She said at the heart of HACT’s work is its Othandweni Hospice and Palliative Care Unit, a 24-bed facility providing compassionate, round-the-clock nursing care for children and adults living with advanced stages of Aids and cancer.

Othandweni, which fittingly means “Place of Love” in isiZulu, is the only hospice of its kind in KZN, said Moolman, who added that each year, around 240 patients receive professional medical support, counselling and dignity at their most vulnerable moments.

Beyond healthcare, HACT addresses the social and economic challenges that fuel HIV vulnerability, explained Moolman.

Also read: Support our furry friends this Festive Season 

This, she said, is done through its youth education and healthy living programmes, such as Goals4Life and Peer Education in primary and high schools, which empower young people to make informed decisions, reduce risky behaviours, and challenge stigma within their schools and communities.

She added that HACT’s internship programme provides out-of-school youth with work experience and life skills.

“Family strengthening, gogo support groups, gender-based violence prevention, food security and adherence programmes help to build safer, healthier families.

“HACT also invests in sustainable livelihoods through its economic empowerment projects, creating opportunities for independence and resilience. The organisation’s flagship social enterprise, Woza Moya, supports over 350 crafters and artists from the Valley of 1000 Hills, helping them transform creativity into financial stability. Complementary initiatives such as the HACT Plant Nursery, Ubuntu Ground Café, and Clothing Scheme provide further training, employment and income-generation opportunities — all reinvesting profits directly into HACT’s community programmes.

“By God’s grace, our 35-year journey is one of responsive impact and shared learning. It is a story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. From the gogos who bead to support their grandchildren, to the nurses offering comfort in our hospice, to the young people building brighter futures through education and opportunity — every act of love and empowerment contributes to a legacy of hope,” said Moolman.

As HACT celebrates 35 years of service, the organisation invites individuals, families and businesses to join in sustaining its mission, through donations, volunteering, or supporting its social enterprises.

“We are deeply grateful for every partner, friend, donor, and volunteer who has journeyed with us,” added Moolman. “In this season of shifting funding landscapes, we are calling on our local community to help safeguard the future of HACT’s unique and deeply contextualised services. When we stand together — neighbours supporting neighbours, caring for those most vulnerable — we keep hope alive. Together we can continue transforming lives, restoring dignity, and building a stronger, more compassionate community, one act of kindness at a time.”

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter here