About us
Launched in 2007, we are a non-profit organisation helping to build a supportive, stigma-free environment for people living with HIV and AIDS to live positively and disclose.
Who are our trustees?
Andile Gidana
Andile is a 33-year old South African, born in Alexandria, Eastern Cape. After matriculating, Andile completed diploma and certificate qualifications in computer skills, office administration, personal assistant skills, financial management, home-based care skills and counselling. Andile has completed a Diploma in Journalism at Varsity College in Port Elizabeth.
Andile's work experience includes working for the Sure Slim Wellness Clinic as a data capturer and diet compiler, and for Positive Care Training as the assistant facilitator of an Ancillary Health Care course. Andile was contracted by Deloitte as a consultant in planning, scheduling, implementing and documenting the CEMIS school monitoring project in the Western Cape, and currently works as a consultant for Statistics South Africa.
Andile has been living with HIV for 7 years and does HIV counselling. He is a founding member of the collective of people who gave birth to Openly Positive.
"It is such a breeze for me to disclose now because I know that HIV is manageable and that there is life after HIV... I just want everyone to know that it is such a relief to get tested sooner rather than later. Believe me, it makes life worth living."
Andile Gidana, Sunday Times, 5 November 2006
To read the full article click here. When bad news is met with love and kindness.
Anne Lebethe
Anne is a 42-year old South African, born in Soweto. After matriculating, Anne completed her BA with UNISA majoring in Psychology and Development Administration. She also completed a certificate course: Associate in Management, a middle management course with the UCT Graduate School of Business in 2005.
Anne has worked as an HIV/AIDS co-ordinator and counsellor for the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) and Hope Worldwide. She was the Vice-Chairperson of NACOSA (an umbrella body of 300 Western Cape NGOs). From 2004 to 2006, Anne was the Chief Community Liaison Officer for the National Department of Health. She then worked for Right to Care as a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Co-ordinator for the Western Cape. She is currently the SAPS HIV/AIDS Coordinator for the Western Cape, focusing on voluntary counselling and testing (VCT).
Anne has been living with HIV for 15 years and specialises in providing support services for people living with HIV and AIDS. She is also a founding member of The Openly Positive Trust and our current Deputy Chairperson.
Derrick Fine
Derrick is a 52-year old South African, born in Cape Town. After matriculating, Derrick qualified with a BA LLB at the University of Cape Town, and as an attorney after serving Articles at Frank, Bernadt and Joffee. He worked as a paralegal training officer for the Legal Education Action Project at UCT's Institute of Criminology and as an education officer for the Constitutional Assembly.
For the past 15 years, Derrick has been an independent HIV/AIDS and plain language consultant to human rights and community organisations, and to government departments and international institutions, such as the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS, the International AIDS Society and the International Commission of Jurists. Derrick is currently a Trustee of The Azriel and Moyra Fine Foundation.
Derrick has been living with HIV for 11 years and specialises in the use of positive, non-stigmatising language in HIV/AIDS communication. He is a further founding member of the Openly Positive collective.
Derrick's life story Clouds move: My journey of living openly with HIV was published in November 2007. For more on Clouds move click here.
"Starting as a jarring wake-up call, testing HIV positive has taken me on an eight-year journey to a life-affirming identity of living, and loving and being loved, with HIV as one part of who I am."
Derrick Fine, Clouds Move, November 2007
Elaine Maane
Elaine is a 40-year old South African, born in Lusaka, Zambia. After matriculating, Elaine completed diploma and certificate qualifications in fashion design, basic counselling and project management.
Elaine was instrumental in forming the Sizophila Project aimed at addressing the needs of people living with HIV and providing immediate counselling. She has worked as a co-ordinator for the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA). In the Mothers-to-Mothers-to-be Project, she successfully developed a mentorship programme for mothers living with HIV to provide support and mentorship to other moms.
Elaine is currently responsible for programme development and regional training for Steps Southern Africa, an initiative that trains facilitators in the use of film to address HIV, AIDS and other social issues. She has completed an Associate in Management qualification at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business.
Elaine has been living with HIV for 14 years and makes public presentations on positive living. She is the fourth and final founding member of Openly Positive and is our current Chairperson.
Elaine's life story Umzala: A woman’s story of living with HIV launched on 25 February 2009. For more on Umzala click here.
