Etafeni Day Centre Trust, a community-based organisation (CBO) that provides comprehensive support for the AIDS-vulnerable children and their caregivers in Nyanga, will receive R120 000 from ABB in 2009 for this project.

"ABB's contribution will help the children tremendously and, most importantly, will give hope and opportunity to the youth and their caregivers," says Andre Van Riensburg, CEO of Starfish. “It is in taking hands and reaching out that we can touch people and make a lasting difference.”

Starfish works with the Etafeni Trust as it provides wide-ranging services to orphaned and vulnerable children and has strong networks within the community and local and provincial government.

HIV prevalence stands at about 29% in Nyanga where unemployment is high and  close to 70%.

Chesney Bradshaw, sustainability manager of ABB South Africa, said the contribution to the Etafeni Trust complements the company's corporate social investment reach to communities throughout South Africa to support youth development.

“We believe it is important to support community projects where the company has operations. Through Starfish we can assist in alleviating the impact of HIV/AIDS and contribute to youth development among the vulnerable and needy communities."

This project is one among several that ABB supports throughout the country to care for orphans of HIV/AIDS.