The 6^th child in a family of 10 children, there was no money for Lucy to pay the required fees to attend school.    Wanting to help, a compassionate aunt brought Lucy from her rural village to the city.    The idea was that there Lucy could find work as a maid and raise money for her education.

Lucy’s aunt—a widow who lost her husband to HIV/AIDS a decade ago—understands what it is to lack opportunities and support.     She was left to raise her five orphaned children and has struggled to provide for even them.

After about a year in the city without success funding even little jobs to raise modest funds for school, Lucy met CAFI partner Destiny Friends International (DEFI).    A small organization itself founded and staffed by HIV-impacted individuals, DEFI’s identifies vulnerable children like Lucy to assist through their after-school and Saturday children’s clubs.

. . .because people like YOU decided to become Guardian Angels for these . . . very vulnerable children, Lucy has just completed her first year at school.

Through local volunteers, DEFI raised enough money to send Lucy to school for one semester.     Then, CAFI learned about Lucy.  And because people like YOU decided to become Guardian Angels for these precious and very vulnerable children, Lucy has just completed her first year at school.

Lucy is just one of millions of HIV-impacted children around the world who need Guardian Angels.

This Holiday Season YOU can join CAFI’s growing band of Guardian Angels by providing an education for Lucy and so many other young girls like her to equip them to live healthy, hopeful lives.

Browse the wide array of gifts for your consideration at the CAFI online store.     Any gift you purchase will provide critical and tangible support for HIV-impacted children and their families.

Hand crafts made by HIV-impacted women:

Paper Beads

Placemats, Table runners and Table Cloths

Book Marks

Gifts of education and empowerment:

School Uniforms and Supplies

School fees for HIV-impacted children

Vocational training for vulnerable girls

Prevention education for youth

Specialized professional training and mentorship

Thank you for giving purposeful gifts of health, hope and happiness this holiday season!

Gifts of microenterprise and nutrition support:

Pigs, chickens, goats to sell and provide food security

Seedlings for small family farmers

Gifts of medical care and treatment:

Treatment for non-HIV health needs

Dental care

Eye exams and glasses

As you shop, please contact us with any questions.     Any gift you purchase will generate a card from CAFI to be given by you or sent directly to your recipient by CAFI.

Thank you for giving purposeful gifts of health, hope and happiness this holiday season!

You may or may not know that today is World AIDS Day.    And even if you do, you may wonder why we’re still talking about AIDS.   There’s a great reason.

We have made amazing progress in mitigating the pandemic:

·        More than 11.5 million people are receiving life-saving anti-retroviral therapy (ART)

·        More than 11.7 million men have undergone voluntary medical circumcision to reduce the risk of HIV transmission

·        Nearly 2 million babies have been born HIV free who otherwise would have been infected

·        1.1 million children are receiving life-saving ART—a 97% increase since 2014

·        More than 1 million adolescent girls and young women have received critical prevention interventions

·        6.2 million orphans and vulnerable children have received care and support

·        74.3 million people have received HIV testing and counseling

But the job is not done!  This progress is both amazing and critical to ending the HIV pandemic.    Yet, certain populations are still at very high risk.

Girls ages 15 to 24 are among the highest risk.  According to the latest UNAIDS report, young women face a triple threat.   They are at high risk of HIV infection, have low rates of HIV testing, and have poor adherence to treatment.

·        Every day, more than 1,000 adolescent girls and young women are infected
with HIV

·        Girls account for 75% of new HIV infections among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa

·        Girls who experience violence are up to three times more likely to be infected with HIV

But the job is not done!  This progress is both amazing and critical to ending the HIV pandemic.    Yet, certain populations are still at very high risk.

Many factors make girls and young women particularly vulnerable, including gender-based violence, exclusion from economic opportunities, and a lack of access to secondary school. Ninety-eight million girls around the world are not in school, yet we know that a girl who has a basic education is three times less likely to contract HIV.

Experts agree that keeping girls in school will reduce their risk.    Your gift of $50 or any other amount can ensure that she will stay in school and, thus, reduce her risk for HIV/AIDS.

Your gift today will help keep adolescent girls in school and protect them from HIV.

http://childrensaidsfund.org/store/products/