African AIDS - What can one person do ?

African AIDS Foundation

Presented at NARELLAN COMMUNITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 20 February 2011.

• 1- Introduction to AAF
  

  Introduction to African Aids Foundation

  Presented at

  Narellan Community Congorational Church

  20 February 2011

  By Eddie Ozols

• 2- Poverty is the problem.
  

  Poverty is the problem, but HIV/AIDS makes everything worse.

   

  Much worse.

  And also more urgent.

• 3- Economic Facts P1

  Source 2005 research MSN Money

  The richest 2% of the world's population owns more than half of the world's household wealth.

  Research indicates that assets of just $2,200 per adult place a household in the top half of the world's wealthiest.

  To be among the richest 10% of adults in the world, just $61,000 in assets is needed.

  If you have more than $500,000, you're part of the richest 1%, the United Nations study says. 37 million people now belong in that category.

• 4- Economic Facts P2

  Source 2005 research MSN Money

  Half live on less than $2 a day

  But take a moment to think about it, and you'll probably come to realize that the meaning behind these numbers is harrowing. If it takes just a couple of thousand dollars to qualify as rich in this world, imagine what it means to be poor.

  Half the world, nearly 3 billion people, live on less than $2 a day.

  The three richest people in the world - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, investor Warren Buffett and Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helú -- have more money than the poorest 48 nations combined.

  Relatively developed nations have low thresholds of per person capital. For example, people in India have per capita assets of $1,100. In Indonesia, capital amounts to $1,400 per person.

• 5- Educate an African Child and Change the World
  

  Educate an African Child

   

   

      and Change the World.

                                                                               

• 6- Living with AIDS
  

  Living with AIDS

  22 million people live with HIV in Africa - 67% of all.

  Women mainly grandmothers care for 40-60% of all orphaned children.

  These home based carers who visit sick and orphaned are part of the African AIDS Project in South Africa.

• 7- Anti-retroviral drugs
  

  Anti-retroviral drugs

  Where ARVs are provided, orphan-hood has been greatly reduced.

  Fewer than 1/3 of the people needing anti-retroviral drugs in Sub-Saharan Africa are receiving them.

• 8- Lost Children
  

  Lost Children

  Africa has 12 million children under 18 who lost one or both parents to AIDS

  The numbers keep growing, along with child-headed households -- a term that was practically unknown 10 years ago.

• 9- Young women and HIV.
  

  Young women and HIV

  In sub-Saharan Africa young women account for 6 out of 10 of all people living with HIV.

  The number of young women living with HIV is rising in every region of the world.

• 10- Many problems
  

  Many Problems

  The problems often feel bottomless and overwhelming

  In most cases families and communities do their best to cope with basic food and shelter needs.

  But hope!

        Hope requires something else . .

• 11- No magic bullet
  

  No magic bullet

  There is no magic bullet but educating youth comes pretty close

• 12- Education
  

  Education

  Everywhere you go in Africa, children tell you that the one thing they want above all else is to attend school.

  School offers release from backbreaking labor, the excitement of learning, friendship, companionship and the life-affirming possibility of making a better life.

• 13- Education is the most powerful weapon
  

  Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.

   

  It is also a weapon that the world cannot do without in the fight against AIDS. Education saves lives.

   

  Nelson Mandela

• 14- Every child has a right to education
  

  Every child has a right to education

  Most governments mandate schooling, at least through the primary grades.

  Many obstacles still prevent the poorest-of-the-poor from attending, especially girls.

• 15- Educational Costs
  

  Educational Costs

  Schools ask the child's family to cover the cost of fees, uniforms, textbooks, school supplies, food and transportation.

  Children who can't pay aren't admitted or get chased away.

  In large families, heads-of-household have to choose amongst their children with the result that orphans - especially girl-orphans - are often kept home to do housework.

• 16- Stay in school
  

  Stay in school

  Growing evidence (UNAIDS) suggests that getting and keeping young people in school, lowers their vulnerability to HIV.

  This is true at the primary level, but especially for the higher grades.

• 17- Independence
  

  Independence

  When young people stay in school through the secondary level, they gain;

  - greater independence,

  - are better equipped to make decisions affecting their sexual lives,

  - feel more positively about their future,

  and have higher income-earning potential.

  All of which help them stay safe from HIV.

• 18- Access to education
  

  Access to education

  means more than just being admitted to a school.

  For poor children affected by HIV, success in school year is much harder, even if they try their best.

  A holistic response that includes the challenge of providing school materials, emotional guidance, school uniforms and food is required.

• 19- About HIV infection rates
  

  About HIV infection rates

  Studies from around the globe (UNAIDS) show that HIV infection rates are at least twice as high among young people who do not finish primary school as those that do.

  Young people who finish secondary school have the best chance to completely break the cycle of poverty, dependence and HIV infection.

• 20- What can maximize success?
  

  What can maximize success?

                                                                               

• 21- AAF supports Life Skills
  

  AAF supports Life Skills Project

  Simple basic education such as it is not OK for your uncle/friend/ neighbour to molest you is a powerful message to the disinherited. Invest in African children just as you would with your own.

  Talk to your friends and neighbors:

  Change is possible Jesus was a change agent

• 22- Values Based Life Skills Project

  Values Based Life Skills Project

  1,509 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC)are impacted and supported in the Value Based Life Skills program

  440 follow ups in October and 264 in November 2010.

  There are 10-12,000 OVC in Okhahlamba where we work.

• 23- What can one person do?
  

  What can one person do?

                                                                               

• 24- Partner with African AIDS Foundation to change the world
  

  Partner with African AIDS Foundation

  Change the world - one person at a time

                                                                               

Regular feedback and financial reports and e-newsletter are available at www.africanaidsfoundation.org.au