Russell Smith and his family know first-hand the plight of HIV impacted children in Uganda.    Visiting first to conduct professional mentorship and training in grant writing for local organization and government leaders, Russell visited clinics, schools and community projects that helped him understand the many challenges these children face.

The result:   the Vanessa Smith Scholarship Fund for HIV impacted children,  named for his teenage daughter.

The fund supports 31 children and for over four years has assisted the same children as they grow and move from primary to secondary school Its helping to ensure an uninterrupted and effective education.

“Words cannot express the joy and happiness you have brought to the lives of these little ones.” 

The entire Smith family (Russell, Daiza, Daniela and Vanessa) traveled to Uganda to meet Scholarship recipients and their parents/guardians face-to-face.   The celebration was exuberant as children performed songs, dances and drama for their new friends from the US.

“Words cannot express the joy and happiness you have brought to the lives of these little ones,” Nurse/Counselor Teddy Alia told the Smiths.

And in their own words:

“I begin by thanking the Almighty Father for saving us up to now.   I thank you for the help that you are giving me through paying my school fees.”   Emmanuel

 “I hope you are fine because I am fine.   I would like to thank you for everything you have supported in my life.  I want to be a nurse.”  Agnes’

 “You came to our lives and your changed them completely since you became our comfort through the love and care you have shown us.   If I was to build you a mountain even if it was a volcano, we would do so in order to show you our love towards your help.  May the Almighty grant you more years to live longer and help more people.”  Deo

Lacking a basic education and managing the impact of HIV on their lives, these children have little hope.

Join the Smiths by providing school scholarships through the CAFI online store and give a child both hope and a future.

“I had lost hope and was doing nothing but roaming around the village,” said 16-year-old Joyce from Luwero, Uganda.  The second child of the three siblings, Joyce said, “My mother died when I was six years old then I lived with my father, a butcher who never provided any basic needs for us including school fees. He was drunk all the time, mistreated and beat us.” Joyce and her siblings left school and went to live with their 100-year-old grandmother who could not support them.”   Joyce collected mangoes by the road to feed her grandmother and siblings.

Selected to participate in the Children’s AIDS Fund International’s Smart Girls program offering vulnerable girls vocational and life skills, Joyce attended knitting school where she learned skills like tailoring, knitting sweaters, skirts and blouses. After graduating she now works at the school and also got a job with a company in the nearby town.

“It never occurred to me that I would become an important person,”

“There are many people who aspire to do this but don’t get the opportunity. I am now a responsible person and save some money each week. I am not sure what would have become of me, especially without no education and nothing to do. I would be pregnant or worse still infected with HIV. I am working very hard so that I can take care of my siblings and my grandmother. In the future, I want to have machines of my own, start up a personal business and also give a chance to help other vulnerable girls in my area to learn what I have been given a chance to learn,” Joyce reflected.

Madame Nansasi, director of the knitting school commended Joyce for her good and hardworking character. “Joyce is going to be a great woman of intelligence with a good future. Despite her poor family background, she is a very dedicated and hopeful girl. She listens to advice and sets goals for herself which I am sure she will achieve.”

Joyce was recommended to the CAFI Smart Girls program by a neighbor who commented,” I used to see that girl and what I had for her was pity. She was showing responsibilities to her two siblings even when she did not know how. When I heard about the CAFI vulnerable girls support program, I knew right away that Joyce was the girl that deserved the opportunity. Living with a helpless grandmother yet with needs as a youth made her very vulnerable.” Only an opportunity like the training offered by CAFI could open a new life for a girl like Joyce.

“There are so many needy people in the world, what can I do? I’m just one person, what difference can I make?” We hear people say that all the time.

Next time take a moment to respond.

Tell them about the three children under age 10 living in New England who painted sea shells to sell and donated the money to help HIV impacted children.

Tell them about the young girl in Virginia who asked that instead of gifts for her 6th birthday that her friends bring toys and school supplies for HIV impacted children in Africa.

The equivalent of about 2 tanks of gas—pays for a child’s school uniform and supplies in sub-Saharan Africa so they can attend public school for a year

Tell them about the middle school in the Midwest that held a week of competitions between classes and donated the funds raised to help HIV impacted children in the US.

Tell them about the family in the Southeast who decided to stop exchanging Christmas gifts between adults and instead donate that money to help build a school for AIDS orphans.

Tell them about our Ugandan partners Vicky and Sam—both HIV positive themselves—who along with managing their own health issues devote their lives to addressing poverty, abuse, malnutrition, discrimination and suffering of others.

It takes $50 –the cost of 10 cups of designer coffee–to provide chickens to a family that will supply them with fresh eggs and meat. About $125—the equivalent of about 2 tanks of gas—to pay for a child’s school uniform and supplies in sub-Saharan Africa so they can attend public school for a year. For $250–about the cost of a gym membership for six months–to provide one vulnerable 13-18 year old girl with vocational training that will enable her to be free from the trap of cross-generational and transactional sex—and most likely the transmission of HIV/AIDS or another sexually transmitted disease.

If we all made the decision to follow these amazing role models to individually do whatever we can for others, the world would be a much different and better place.

Deo, age 14, is an HIV-positive orphan in Kampala, Uganda.   He lives with his widowed mother who cares for three other children.  Deo receives treatment at a clinic supported by Children’s AIDS Fund International and his health is very good.  But he was not able to attend school regularly because his mother has no reliable source of income and cannot pay required school fees.

Deo now not only has life-saving medicine but he has been receiving a scholarship for the past three years. This has kept him in school and has given him hope and helped ensure a brighter, healthier future.  Deo wrote this powerful poem we want to share with you.

     Living Just a Little, Laughing Just a Little, Laughing Isn’t Easy

I’m tired of taking medicine!!
My situation is way beyond just how I feel.
Yet I have to be disciplined enough to take medications every day-
even if it is the difference between good and bad, health and sickness, life
and death.
Why should I be any different than most humans I know?
My heart yearns to be free!
You can tell by the look in my eyes that I love life, and don’t want to leave.
People, listen up!
You won’t learn this from a book.
Before you party and drink, AIDS HAS NO CURE!
Take a closer look and you will protect the lives of those whom you love.

Make 2014 the year you commit to help Deo and other HIV impacted children like him.