50+ Project: Advancing Sustainability Through Social Enterprise

Building robust evidence base and a formally registered non-profit structure (50 Plus Projects 2025 / 166560 / 08 NPC), the initiative is expanding its reach and deepening its impact through strategic partnerships, grassroots mobilisation, and innovative funding mechanisms.

Spotting the intersection of aging, HIV, poverty and NCDs as a critical public health and social developmental concern has helped the project to accentuate sustainable, integrated health and social care solutions through community-driven interventions as its thrust.

To date, 44+ Community Psychosocial Support Networks (CPSNs) established in Gauteng, Northwest, and Limpopo; 16 more planned nationwide.

Healthcare Access & Screenings:

• 266+ vital screenings conducted in Ekurhuleni alone.
• HIV testing & counseling, blood pressure & glucose screenings services provided through 6 Community Health Dialogues held over a period of 8 month from April 2025.
• We have 7 OPLHIV that were successfully re-engaged in care after disengagement.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborations with PLHIV Sector, Global Fund, Gauteng AIDS Council, Anova, Aurum Institute, and others.
• Presented findings to SANAC and collaboration with NDoH and DSD for policy integration.

CBO Capacity Strengthening

• Strengthened relationship with 15+ community-based organisations (CBOs) through governance, advisory and training.
• 20 facilitators trained using the IACT curriculum, enhancing peer support & healthcare linkages.
• 24 male facilitators trained using the IACT curriculum, enhancing peer support & healthcare linkages in partnership with Seventh Day Adventist (SDA)

Economic Development & Resource Mobilisation

• Introduced income-generating activities for older people (e.g., community food security hubs, cooperatives) though at infancy, we hope to mobilise resources to achieve full scale projects.
• Partnerships with Quadcare will be grown expanded healthcare access and sustainability or service provision that is nuanced to 50+ communities.

The 50+ Project has already engaged over 1000+ older persons through community health dialogues and over 3000 through CPSN’s (supported by social and health workers), addressing HIV, comorbidities, treatment fatigue, psychosocial support and disengagement from care.

Through stakeholder alignment, including engagements with SANAC, the Global Fund, Gauteng AIDS Council, and key healthcare partners, the 50+ Project has begun a process of shaping policy, expanding healthcare access through integration, and driving systemic change.

We have successfully supported CBOs (Ekurhuleni, City of Johannesburg and Greater Taung) in formalising governance structures, ensuring regulatory compliance, and strengthening localised service delivery. Strategic corporate partnerships will drive long-term sustainability while reinvesting resources into community-led health initiatives.

We align ourselves with national health priorities, including the National Active Ageing Programme, Healthy Lifestyles Promotion, and Social Inclusion Services. We support the NSP 2023-2028 for HIV, TB & STIs and contribute to closing the 1.1 Million Treatment Gap and leveraging evidence from the STEPSSA 50 Plus Scoping Report, the project continues to advocate for equitable, age-inclusive healthcare.

We are growing digital presence; we have established platforms and growing engagement. We are conducting desktop research for collaborations, and active participation in national and global dialogues to further solidify our role as a trailblazer in aging, HIV, poverty and public health advocacy.