AIDS Orphanage and Women’s Program

 

In August 2013, we launched the latest part of our outreach in Ethiopia.  As you may know, AIDS has struck the continent of Africa the hardest and many people continue to feel the devastation this disease on their lives and communities.  Because the disease is so powerful and widespread, there is much fear and misinformation that abounds.  Many people who test positive for HIV/AIDS are ostracized from their families and communities.  This is especially difficult for women and children, who don’t have many places they can turn to for their survival.

 

For this reason, EFF is helping to support an organization named Bete – Se’ida in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia which has two main areas of focus:  We help run an orphanage for children and babies who have AIDS or are HIV positive. Secondly, we help young mothers who are AIDS/HIV positive get assistance, job training and medical care.

• The HIV/AIDS Women’s  Project has two phases: 1) Rehabilitating the women at an in-house program for 2 months providing shelter, medical care and food for themselves and their children. 2) Training the women in a skill so that they can then make money and provide for their family 3)  Provide seed funding, so the women can use their training and transform their lives and get back into the community.  It is optimal to try and keep these women with their children, and so every effort is made to keep their bond strong, while supporting a sustainable path toward independence for the young mother.  The Ethiopian Family Fund works with Project Hopeful in this project http://www.projecthopeful.org/hope-sisterhood

 

The Telluride Aids Benefit http://www.aidsbenefit.org/education has named the Ethiopian Family Fund as a beneficiary for the past 3 years.    Read all about their work and their beneficiaries by visiting http://www.aidsbenefit.org/beneficiaries

See pictures from 2013 Telluride Aids Benefit Fashion Show http://www.aidsbenefit.org/gallery.htm