African Issues in Palliative Care

As part of the Just Festival's programme, the Soweto Melodic Voices youth choir came to Edinburgh to perform at St John's Church.

Supported by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the choir offers a vibrant, life-affirming, celebration of traditional and contemporary African music, dance and song. Performing at the Fringe for the first time following international success expect a visual and melodic delight for all.

Members of the choir are young adults who have grown up amidst the poverty of Soweto and have experienced first-hand hardships and bereavement through HIV/AIDS. Transcending these hardships by friendship, mutual support and the joys for performing, the group raises funds for the prevention, treatment and orphans of HIV/AIDS, and enhances education opportunities for themselves and their community.

Supported by the University's Chaplaincy, this was an uplifting and affirmative experience showcasing the power of community.

During the event a talk was given my Dr Liz Grant, who shared her pioneering experiences of supporting palliative care in developing countries, the role of faith communities in supporting health care, understanding spirituality and health, and working with AIDS/HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.