We are proud to announce long-established household cleaning brand Carbona as our first corporate sponsor.

As part of their “Carbona Cares” program, Carbona has donated $10,000 to Ubuntu Now. The funds will be used to sponsor both a full-time community mobilizer and a clinic help desk worker in South Africa over a 10 month period. Both professionals are employed by Ubuntu Now’s local sister organizations, the Sonke Gender Justice Network and Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program (TVEP).

Carbona’s name is closely tied to the campaign in a sincere effort to address some of the most pressing issues in South Africa, with the goal of launching a number of similar partner programs that provide value to both Carbona’s sponsors and, most importantly, Ubuntu Now’s objectives.

First, “Carbona Cares” will sponsor a Sonke Gender Justice Network staff member to promote and implement their One Man Can campaign. The sponsored community mobilizer will work to:

•    Educate men to stand against violence against women, both personally and within their own community

•    Increase men’s understanding and support of gender equality

•    Mobilize the public, private and non-government organization (NGO) sectors to encourage men’s greater involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support activities.

In addition, the community mobilizer will conduct weekly workshops to further promote these goals.

Second, videos will also be filmed by a “Carbona Cares” sponsored help desk advisor at TVEP. They will conduct monthly interviews covering topics such as sexual assaults, HIV, access to justice and use of female condoms.  The help desk advisor will be talking to rape victims, program directors and clinic help desk advisors in rural South Africa.

Watch this blog and/or our Facebook fan page for updates directly from the community mobilizers!

The digital cameras that will be used for this project were generously provided by Eastman Kodak.