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Zimbabweans
in the Diaspora fight HIV/AIDS back home
HIV/AIDS
Zimbabwe Charity
December 01, 2007
HIV/AIDS Zimbabwe
Charity, Inc. (HAZ), today announced that they are stepping up their
efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, as they startup
and support five new projects in Zimbabwe. The projects will be
located in Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Nyanga. HAZ, as a global non-profit
organization comprised exclusively of Zimbabweans, has focused its
efforts over the past two years on engaging Zimbabweans at the global
level, to be directly involved in lessening the catastrophic impact
of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Friends of Picardy Drive (FOPD) is an Oakland,
California based non-profit organization providing an online community
news and resources directory, fundraising and support for local
and global charitable projects. HAZ will be partnering with FOPD
on the new projects. The projects that were launched by HAZ and
FOPD today are:
The Ilanga Self
Empowerment Network Project (ISEN):This project will build upon
the ongoing efforts of a home-based care project started by a woman
offering support and training to single HIV positive mothers in
Bulawayo. Please visit, learn more about, and support this project
by going here.
A New Hiv/Aids
Clinic: The clinic marks the official adoption of a new HAZ Clinical
Services program, and expands on HAZ's ongoing support of two HIV/AIDS
clinics administered by the Zimbabwe AIDS Relief initiative in Harare
and Mutoko. The new start-up clinic is a joint venture between HAZ
and FOPD and will be based in Bulawayo. The new clinic will seek
to offer free clinical support to HIV/AIDS patients who currently
have no access to clinical services. Please visit and support the
Clinical
Services Program.
The Chitungwiza Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project (COVCP):
This project will build upon the ongoing efforts of the Chitungwiza
Unit K Seke Baptist Church, which is offering community based support
to children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, within the Chitungwiza
Unit K community. Please visit, learn more about, and support this
project here.
The Home
of Hope Children's Home (HOH): HAZ and FOPD will support on-going
efforts to develop a Catholic-run orphanage in Nyanga. Please visit,
learn more about, and support this project here.
The World Aids
Day Student Essay Contest Project (WADEC): As part of the HAZ World
AIDS Day 2007 commemorations, HAZ conducted its first annual World
AIDS Day Student Essay Contest (WADEC). Winners of the essay contest
were announced today on SW Radio Africa's program "HEALTHBEAT",
as well as through the HAZ and it's partner web sites and mailing
lists. FOPD is proud to offer support for this youth focused project.
You may also read the complete winning essays on the HAZ
Exclusive Publications site.
In addition
to initiating the afore-mentioned projects, HAZ will also continue
supporting the two clinics run by the Allen Temple - AIDS Ministry's
'Zimbabwe AIDS Relief' initiative in Harare and Mutoko, where 600
HIV/AIDS patients are now being treated at no charge. In addition,
HAZ provides an online
library of HIV/AIDS references (The Zimbabwe Online Library
of HIV and AIDS References -ZOLAR), consultancy services, online
streaming HIV/AIDS information and exclusive HIV/AIDS publications.
Recently, the
Rhodesian raised author, Ms. Doris Lessing won
the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature. There was much heated debate
on one of the Zimbabwean online forums, about whether Zimbabweans
can now claim to have won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature - by
virtue of their historical association with Ms. Lessing. Sharing
the Nobel Prize with Ms. Lessing in this context would bring, and
in some cases has brought much pride to Zimbabweans worldwide. Zimbabweans
also walk with pride today, at reports that the country's HIV prevalence
rates continue on a steep decline."I guess we feel like we
have collectively done something positive as a country", noted
Joshua Dziba, the Executive Director of HAZ. HAZ aims to tap into
that Zimbabwean collective potential, by engaging Zimbabweans on
a global scale, to be directly involved and to work more collaboratively,
in mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS amongst Zimbabweans. "It
is a uniquely Zimbabwean approach at a global level, which brings
us a uniquely Zimbabwean satisfaction, which we cannot attain in
any other way", continued Mr. Dziba.
This HAZ approach,
the global approach to engaging other Zimbabweans in mitigating
the impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Zimbabwe is new to most of
the Zimbabwean members of HAZ. As such, HAZ has sought guidance,
and continues to seek guidance, by partnering with other effective,
long and newly established organizations, both in Zimbabwe and abroad,
who share their vision. As Mr. Dziba explained:
We as Zimbabweans
in the Diaspora may not all have much money to spare, but we all
have a talent, skill, or expertise, which if brought into a collaborative
effort can help make a difference to at least one life touched by
HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. We leverage our individual talents in an organized
way and also collaborate with our local and international partners
such as the Friends of Picardy Drive and the Zimbabwe AIDS Relief,
to maximize the impact of our efforts and collective resources.
Being a non-governmental organization, HAZ is nonetheless mindful
to ensure that the organization's efforts and initiatives are in
line with, and compliment Zimbabwe's national anti-HIV/AIDS efforts,
which are coordinated through the National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe."
HAZ and FOPD
use all funds raised to provide the maximum benefit in an accountable
and sustainable way. HAZ also seeks to provide a Zimbabwean perspective
to non-Zimbabwean organizations wanting to be a part of the AIDS
relief efforts in Zimbabwe, ensuring sensitivity in the work done
by non-Zimbabweans, to Zimbabwe's socio-cultural ways of life. "We
could not be nearly as effective without the valued input and assistance
of HAZ's experienced staff on the ground in Zimbabwe", said
Kevin Monroe, Founder of FOPD.
HAZ uses internet
technology to connect talented Zimbabweans around the globe with
accountable and sustainable projects which empower children and
families impacted by AIDS. HAZ's approach helps mitigate the "brain
drain" of talent from Zimbabwe by reconnecting with that same
talent globally and providing a vehicle for continued engagement
from afar. "Zimbabweans are contacting us daily to say, count
me in . . . how can I volunteer?" says Joshua Dziba.
"Zimbabweans
may be dispersed across the globe, but we believe that all have
something to offer in the fight against HIV/AIDS. HAZ wishes to
highlight to fellow Zimbabweans that it is not just their individual
families, facing HIV/AIDS back home, that need their help now more
than ever. It is the whole of Zimbabwe that needs the support of
the Zimbabweans in the Diaspora." Mr. Dziba concluded by pointing
out that, "as we reflect upon this World AIDS Day 2007, we
ought to remember that activism begins by touching just one life
and that even though individually we may be just one drop, together
we are the ocean."
Facts
About HAZ: "HIV/AIDS
Zimbabwe Charity, Inc" was formed in 2005 and is a global organization
of Zimbabweans, both in Zimbabwe and in the Diaspora, who are working
together to provide effective and sustainable solutions to mitigate
the impact of HIV/AIDS amongst Zimbabweans. We are a registered
trust in Zimbabwe and a tax exempt, non-profit, public charity organization
in the USA, with additional chapters in Canada and the UK. HAZ provides
organized support and services through the following six programs:
- Children's
Services Program
- Clinical
Services Program
- Community-Based
Service Projects
- Consultancy
Services
- Informational/Educational
Services
- Strategic
Partnerships Program
About FOPD:
"The Friends of Picardy Drive" was formed in 2002 and
is based in Oakland, California (USA). The organization provides;
an online community news and resources directory, as well as support
and fundraising for local and global charitable activities. FOPD
collaborates with HAZ and ZAR on a number of Zimbabwe projects providing
AIDS support and services. FOPD is a registered tax-exempt, non-profit,
public charity organization in the USA.
Mr. Kevin Monroe,
Founder
Visit the HIV/AIDS
Zimbabwe Charity fact
sheet
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