HIV/AIDS in Tanzania - Volunteering with Simba, Timone, and the boar

Tanzania, located in Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, is home to an astounding AIDS/HIV population.  Approximately 9 percent of the population live with the illness (compared to Canada's 0.3% or USA's 0.6%).  That's nearly one in ten people - a higher stat than both its neighbouring countries.  

Consider this

• 140,000 children in Tanzania are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS and there were almost one million AIDS orphans (2003 est.).
• Access to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is very limited in Tanzania. Tanzania is among the 20 countries identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having the highest unmet need for ART.
• Tanzania has the 4th highest number of HIV/AIDS cases in the world (2003 est.).

This June, I will be volunteering with International Volunteer HQ in Arusha, Tanzania to alleviate the epidemic's effects.  I will also be working with government institutions, NGOs, and community based organizations who are working very closely with the communities and HIV/Aids patients.

Goals of the program

• Caring and supporting the infected.

• Creating HIV/AIDS awareness to vulnerable groups at schools and community groups.

• Visiting patients in their homes, helping with medical care and food, conducting lessons to educate people on the dangers of HIV and how to prevent themselves from getting infected.

It would be naive to believe that my work will change the world, but I feel that this is at least a step in the right direction.  Ghandi once said that "you must be the change you wish to see in the world" and I can't wait to get started! 

What you are funding

Lacking common sense, I did not realize saving the world would cost so much!  I'd like to still afford rent after this summer (unless someone has a couch for me) so I'm asking for your help.  I hope to fundraise as much of the expenses as possible and have no problem with selling girl guide cookies to cover the rest.

Airfare alone will cost about $1800 USD and the volunteer program is about $650 USD.  There will also be insurance, visas, local transportation, and vaccinations that will be added to this.  That's about $3000 in total (and before any souvenirs for you guys!).  Ideally, I'd like to also leave some financial resources for the grassroots programs there after I leave.  My goal is at least $1200-2000 from sponsorship (I set the target on the site to be $1200, but hope to exceed that).  

Please help me fundraise for a truly worthy cause and also an amazing volunteer and life experience.

More program information is available here.  Feel free to email me if you have questions or prefer to make a cash donation.

Ada ya mja hunena, mwungwana ni kitendo. Swahili for "Actions speak louder than words."Oh, and hakuna matata - Fergus