Australia AIDS South Africa Inc
by Guest Author
How do you respond when hearing frightening statistics like these?
Reported statistics of the AIDSHIV pandemic in South Africa
More than 5.7 million people are living with HIV in South Africa
Almost 1 in 5 adults are infected
Approximately 1,000 AIDS deaths occur every day
71% of deaths of people between the ages of 15 and 49 are caused by AIDS.
In 2005 the HIV prevalence rate among pregnant women was 30.2% and rising annually
Around 280,000 children under the age of 15 are living with HIV.
An address on the trauma and the desperate needs experienced by the victims of HIV AIDS in South Africa by the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town in Melbourne in 2003, inspired a small group of South African expats in Melbourne to be proactive in assisting those living with HIVAIDS.
The result was the establishment of Australia AIDS South Africa Inc, an Australian-registered Not-For-Profit Association. The sole aim of the association is to help alleviate the pain and suffering of those in South Africa affected by the HIVAIDS epidemic.
The Objectives are:
To secure funding to improve the quality of life of people in South Africa living with AIDS by partnering with the local community organisations
To raise awareness of the effects and extent of the AIDS epidemic in South Africa and to elicit support for Australia AIDS South Africas projects.
To strategically direct assistance towards community developmental and educational programs that will combat the spread of HIVAIDS.
Australia AIDS South Africa Inc partners with organisations in South Africa who have similar aims. Their financial support has assisted with:
setting up income generation programs in impoverished areas that have high incidences of HIVAIDS
maintaining foster homes and orphanages for children infected by HIV.
furthering educational AIDS-prevention programs in schools and communities
establishing respite rooms for those affected and infected by HIVAIDS.
Australia AIDS South Africa Inc is quite a remarkable organisation.
The organisation maintains strong management and accountability with very low overheads.
The Management Committee of eleven members are all dedicated, unpaid volunteers whose sole motivation is driven by a passion to assist those unfortunate to be living with HIVAIDS. During this year alone, five of these members have travelled from Melbourne to South Africa to monitor our programs with no cost at all to the organisation.
Most of the money is raised from social events such as dances, bus trips, walks etc. No money at this stage is received from corporate sponsorship.
Through its fundraising efforts, Australia AIDS South Africa Inc has donated more than R900,000 (ZAR) to partners in South Africa.
Its membership has increased to more than 160 members, mostly South African ex-pats who actively support fundraising efforts.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Visit our website to find out more about our organization http:www.aasainc.org.au
Become a member
Support our fund raising
Donate financially
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