In November 2003, Hospice of the Chesapeake began the partnership with its sister hospice in Sub-Saharan Africa, Brits-Hartbeespoort Hospice. Through the twinning organization Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa, Inc. (FHSSA), Hospice of the Chesapeake became the first hospice in the Mid-Atlantic to partner with a hospice in Sub-Saharan Africa. FHSSA is an affiliate of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). FHSSA increases public awareness of the AIDS pandemic in South Africa and sponsors people-to-people and program-to-program professional exchanges. In the region of Brits-Hartbeespoort Hospice, there are an estimated 4.3 million people needing AIDS home-based care and it is predicted that by the year 2010 there will be 20 million orphans.

For current news about hospice efforts, and the staff and volunteers that provide care to patients and families in Sub-Saharan Africa, please click Brits-Hartbeespoort newsletter. 

Hospice of the Chesapeake created a "Beads for Brits" fund raising project during the children's bereavement camp, Camp Nabi, during the summer of 2005. Through the tiny hands and big hearts of the campers, Beads for Brits prospered into an initiative that takes place every summer at both Camp Nabi and Phoenix Rising, during the fall at the adult Wabanaki bereavement retreat, during other grief activities and "beading nights" for members of the hospice community. The generosity and spirit of the Camp Nabi children was very contagious, as the project continues to grow at many Hospice of the Chesapeake events and gatherings. For a calendar listing of Beads for Brits sessions, please click here.

As of December 2008, Hospice of the Chesapeake has raised more than $20,000 for Brits Hospice through the sale of the bracelets, World AIDS Day awareness events and other initiatives. The money has been used to buy monthly food parcels for the neediest patients and their families since March of 2006 in Damonsville, a small village of approximately 1,000 homes with at least six people per house and 65 square feet in size. Surrounding this village is an informal settlement of 3,000 people living in shacks. 

In May 2008, the Damonsville Clinic opened its doors and is the care center for many patients and their families needing weekly attention and support. The people of the village and surrounding settlement walk to the Clinic where the hospice nurse, or sister as they are called in South Africa, assesses their health needs, provides them with a meal, and welcomes them to a support group.

In a recent correspondence, Anneke Boshoff, Brits newly appointed General Manager said, “I would like to thank Hospice of the Chesapeake for the generous donation we received - R 68 589.38.  This is a fantastic amount.  As you know, your donations supply our Damonsville support group members with food hampers each month. We currently have 25-plus members in the group. Thank you ever so much for caring and supporting our project.”

For more information on Hospice of the Chesapeake's partnership with Brits-Hartbeespoort Hospice, please contact Karen Frank at 410.987.2129 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .