International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2018

Today (Sunday 20 May) is International Candlelight Memorial Day. On this Pentecost Sunday, we lit candles, read prayers and remembered people living with HIV, as well as those we have lost to HIV.

Big thank you Cathedral bookshop

On Saturday 19 May, CHATT organised a morning tea for the Cathedral Bookshop and Volunteers to thank them for their incredible work over the years. The Bookshop has raised funds for many initiatives supported by the Cathedral. This includes funding CHATT's activities, especially the work we do 'caring for carers'.

It's 2018! CHATT is going strong & excited about the year ahead

Our annual CHATT social activity took place over a delicious breakfast on 13 January at Rhodes Memorial Tea Garden. Desire Martin, the Cathedral's communications lead and a super supporter of CHATT joined us for the breakfast. CHATT involves a beautiful group of people - we enjoy each others' company, fellowship together and do important work to speak up against social injustice, especially stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV.

World AIDS Day 2017

At our 9h30 Cathedral service on 26 November 2017, to mark World AIDS Day, CHATTers wore t-shirts carrying messages against HIV and TB-related stigma. We processed with the clergy, spoke to the entire congregation about why HIV remains critical and affects us all, prayed for people living with and most affected by HIV, and spoke with Cathedral members during the tea and coffee after the service to share information, resources, experiences and stories of support. 

CHATT Review Meeting 2017: A call for a greater focus on gender violence

CHATT held its review meeting, which takes place every two years. We discussed our external environment in South Africa, reviewed the activities we have achieved in the past two years, critically examined what went well and what we could do differently and agreed on our key activities over the next two years.

CHATT will continue to focus on tackling stigma (against HIV, TB, sexual minorities, disability), chatting with congregation members and connecting people with information and resources. In addition, following our review meeting, CHATT will increase our focus on gender violence. This is a critical issue for us - violence against women, children and in relationships. It is a silent, neglected, pervasive and very complex issue. We are challenging ourselves to understand it better and to act on these critical issues in our Cathedral and in our Cape Town community.

International Candlelight Memorial Day 2017

Today is a very special day. We remember people who we have lost to HIV. At the same time, we celebrate the gift of life.

Below are pictures of our activities at the Cathedral today.

CHATTers plan Candlelight Memorial next...

Another productive monthly CHATT meeting!