SAAVI news releases
12 August 2004

Nelson Mandela Foundation and SAAVI announce partnership

YESTERDAY, the first ever isiZulu feature film, produced by Anant Singh has its Johannesburg Premiere tonight when with its, writer/director Darrell James Roodt, and its lead stars Leleti Khumalo (Sarafina!), Kenneth Kambule (Backstage, Generations, I Dreamed Of Africa), and child star Lihle Mvelase in attendance. The film was shot on location in the Bergville region of KwaZulu-Natal.

Set against the awesome, harsh landscapes of South Africa, YESTERDAY is a story of courage, compassion and hope. It is an eloquent, unsen timental film that quietly builds an overwhelming emotional force.

On the occasion of the premiere of Yesterday, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) would like to announce the establishment of a formal partnership aimed at advancing the goals of both organisations.

The two organisations will outline a partnership implementation plan that will allow them to work together in areas of mutual interest to advance the overall goal of protecting South Africans against HIV and AIDS. The joint programme will address a variety of HIV vaccine related issues including adolescent HIV vaccine preparation and trials.

Specifics will include:

• The Nelson Mandela Foundation will offer support to SAAVI in its aim of developing an effective HIV vaccine for South Africa, and will endeavour to show leadership in the area of gaining further support for HIV vaccines.
• SAAVI will support the Nelson Mandela Foundation in its endeavours to make a significant impact on the HIV epidemic that is affecting the globe, through its R&D activities as well as through support of Foundation activities.
• Foundation involvement in existing SAAVI structures such as the Childhood and Adolescent Working Group, a multidisciplinary grouping which examines the complex clinical, human rights and ethical issues involved in preparing adolescents, their families and communities for appropriate participation in AIDS vaccine clinical trials.
• The preparation of a strategy and implementation programme to drive adolescent HIV vaccine preparation and trial support.
• The organising of an international consultative meeting of appropriate continental and international experts in adolescent work to advance the issues on continental and international levels.
• Ongoing advocacy work by both organisations to encourage parents and adolescents to participate in HIV/AIDS vaccine development in appropriate ways.
• Downstream funding by the Foundation of SAAVI's activities.

"The partnership announced today with the Nelson Mandela Foundation is an important step forward and we welcome the commitment of the Foundation and the personal support of Mr Mandela for SAAVI," said Dr Tim Tucker, Director of SAAVI. "This is a partnership, and SAAVI today also commits its support to the Foundation's activities.

"Both organisations have youth as one of their key constituencies. As a result, the focus of this partnership between SAAVI and the Nelson Mandela Foundation will be the expansion of our adolescent-friendly HIV vaccine community activities and the responsible involvement of adolescents in HIV vaccine trials," he continued. "SAAVI is committed to the long-term involvement of fully informed adolescents in HIV vaccine research and development, and in the speedy roll out of a successful vaccine to this target group. Preparing for this work is a cornerstone of the partnership, as a successful HIV vaccine that is effective in adolescents would be a huge step forward in protecting future generations."

John Samuel, Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation said earlier: " The Foundation is ideally placed to play a key role in the fight against AIDS, in South Africa and around the world. Its role is not that of a traditional grant-making agency, nor that of an implementer. Rather, in order to capitalize on the reputation of its Founder as the world's most well-known facilitator and reconciler, the Foundation has positioned itself as a catalyst organization that brings together key stakeholders and partners in the local and international health community to formulate a holistic approach to fighting AIDS. Our partnership with SAAVI will enable us to harness the best minds in the vaccine arena, in the development of a meaningful prevention based response to the epidemic.

Producer of Yesterday, Anant Singh commented, "We are delighted that the announcement of the partnership between the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SAAVI was made at the premiere of Yesterday. The story of Yesterday is a universal one thattakes one on a journey through one woman's life and highlights her courage and determination to overcome insurmountable odds. The character, Yesterday is a rural woman inflicted with HIV / AIDS and the film highlights the cause of many rural African women who have become victims of AIDS. The partnership between the Foundation and SAAVi will certainly benefit many people, like Yesterday and give them hope for a better future."

SAAVI was established in 1999 by the South African Departments of Health and of Science & Technology, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Eskom, in a unique public-private partnership to co-ordinate the research, development and testing of HIV/AIDS vaccines in South Africa. SAAVI is a national body housed at the MRC. SAAVI works and collaborates with key national and international partners, with the aim of producing an affordable, effective and locally relevant HIV/AIDS vaccine for southern Africa. SAAVI's primary funders within SA include Eskom, the Departments of Science & Technology and Health.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation aims to capture the vision and values of Nelson Mandela's life and work. Its work is a celebration of Nelson Mandela's life, focusing on the values of democracy, freedom and development, and creating critical opportunities that enrich and express these values.

Through the creation of strategic networks and partnerships, the Foundation directs resources, knowledge and practice to add value and demonstrate new possibilities. The Foundation embodies the spirit of reconciliation, ubuntu and social justice. Its mission is to become a premier institution that is a promoter and catalyst of the Mandela legacy. It is an African rooted organisation that aims to generate a global impact. The Foundation develops initiatives that advance understanding of social change and human development in an approach that integrates knowledge and practice.

For further details, contact:

SAAVI
Dr Tim Tucker, SAAVI Director
Tel: +27 (0) 21 938 0262, e-mail: saavi@mrc.ac.za

Michelle Galloway, Media and Communications Manager
Tel: +27 (0) 21 938 0205, 082 553 1149, e-mail: michelle.galloway@mrc.ac.za
SAAVI Vaccine Info-line 080 VACCINE
http://www.saavi.org.za

Nelson Mandela Foundation
Elaine McKay, Programme Manager: HIV/AIDS
Tel: +27 (0) 11 728 1000 ext. 4126, +27(0) 82 878 9733, e-mail: Elaine@nelsonmandela.org
http://www.nelsonmandela.org