Garage Sale

Angel Garage Sale in Cyberspace

Do you have some interesting items that could go in a garage sale? What about that ornate mirror? Outlived rocking chair? Extra dishes?

Used Victoria will help you turn these into cash for African Aids Angels.

Here’s how:

1. Take a digital photo of your item. (i.e. chair)

2. Write a brief description of the item and set a price

3. Email photo, description and price to Erin at erin.ruff@saanich.ca

She will post it on Used Victoria, noting that the funds raised go to African Aids Angels, along with our weblink. If there is a buyer, Erin will send you the person’s contact information and you set up a time for the item to be picked up at your home.

If you are familiar with Used Victoria you can do this yourself. Please be sure to include the link to African Aids Angels. It is another way of spreading our name in the community.

These will be cash only transactions.

Does this work?

Mary's note: I raised $215 in 3 days by clearing out a few cupboards. I’m happy with the new space and two more bags of food corn will be available for hospice care in Malawi.

For Out of Town groups, you can try the same thing using Craig’s List. Let us know your results.

November 15

House Event.

African Aids Angels will once again have a special holiday event hosted in a private home. It will be open to the whole community. Please put November 15^th on your calendar and think about who you will invite.

More news when the leaves turn colour! Now go enjoy the summer.

Fabric

Surplus Fabric

We are often donated very large pieces of fabric. We use part of the donated material for making angels but have been looking for someone who could use the surplus.

We have learned that Beacon Community Services accepts fabric for their thrift shop. You can drop off your extra fabric and support another community group. Check for a shop in your area. There is one on Quadra and one in Sidney.

Guns, Glue and Paint

Work Party

Volunteers needed.

Gluing experience an asset,
but will train!

The first body construction workshop was held June 24th. Six volunteers experimented with ways of efficiently gluing beads to pegs, drawing faces , putting on hair and tagging completed angels. Two hours of work produced almost 200 angel bodies, most with faces and many with hair. We were pleased with the first effort.

Watch for other workshops in the fall. We need to produce a at least 2000 bodies to supplement the work of individual volunteers who make another 2000 of them at home.

Think about hosting one at your kitchen table. All materials are supplied. If you have a table that seats 6 comfortably and can provide tea/coffee that is all that is needed. You choose the night and open your doors for 2 hours.

Contact Gail at africanaidsangels@gmail.com for details.

Aids Angels AGM

African Aids Angels
Annual General Meeting

Tuesday, June 3

New Board

1.African Aids Angels Annual Report, Financial Report and Project Reports are all available now.

Ask for them at africanaidsangels.gmail.com



2.Welcome to our new Board Members Gail Blais and Erin Ruff.

Gail is working on inventory management and new ways of organizing the construction of angel bodies. See blog notes. She is also a professional crafter and has experience in publicity for small groups.

Erin is experimenting with new ideas for fundraising. She is organizing the Angel Garage Sale on Used Victoria. See blog note.

Mary Bomford remains as Coordinator.

Pierre Dill continues as our Zambian orphanage contact and is working with Makeni to explore a new agricultural project for food security for AIDS affected people.

Joan Fox joins us again working with a very productive home based group and also with the House Event committee.

Vic Parsons remains as Secretary and our contact with Thembalethu orphanage and St. Mary's Hospital Born to Live Program.

Carol Sherwood continues her work as Treasurer, Website Management and graphic design.


3.Outgoing:

We wish to thank Linda Scotton, our outgoing Board Member, for her work on Board development and the House Fair. She will continue to be an active Angel volunteer focussing on this year's House Fair

Angel Supplies

Where to find angel making supplies

Angel making kit complete with:

Angel bodies, with 15 hair and 5 without

Name tags

Raffia

Glue sticks

Will be available from Mary July until 25. Again after August 20.

Send a message to africanaidsangels@gmail.com to arrange pick up.


The following are also available:

Fabric, bling, ribbon, beads

Remember:

Angels can be delivered to angel making sessions.

Come to pick up materials, or exchange fabric even if you do not have time to stop and make angels with the group.

See dates and locations posted on the blog.

Angels available in Victoria via website

One of our volunteers is experimenting with asking for donations in a new way.

UsedVictoria.com is a popular website for buying and selling items. Now African AIDS Angels has a spot in the folk art category. You can check this out at www.usedvictoria.com, and type African Aids Angels in the search box.

Since items are delivered in person, it only works for orders in the local community. It's an interesting new fund-raising effort, and we're curious to know how the experiment turns out.

Ideas

Design Inspirations

Many of you have asked for more photos of different styles of angels. Carol has created a link to an album of varied angels, including some notes on how they were made. Check the website and click on “What’s new”.

Thembalethu Report

Thembalethu (Our Hope)

The name of the children’s shelter that Lorraine and Vic Parsons worked at from October to December 2007 pretty much sums up the hope for the future of the many orphaned and abandoned children in this part of South Africa. Both the shelter and St. Mary’s Hospital are located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, the hardest hit part of South Africa by the HIV-AIDS pandemic.

We were astonished at the deep connections that the Zulu order of nuns, Daughters of St. Francis, have in the local community. The shelter is located two hours south of Durban in a rural setting of steep hills and green valleys. Not only do the sisters run the shelter, which accommodates between 20 and 26 children at a time, but they also provide meals for local schoolchildren, and they have an Outreach program that supplies food parcels – rice, beans, cornmeal, dairy supplements, oil – and blankets. If someone needs a wheelchair, they will work diligently to find one. If an ill person needs assistance to get a doctor’s certificate so they can get a pension from the government, they will explore all means possible. They also run a day care for children at the Assisi mission, and help support another about 10 kilometres away that serves 80 local kids. They distribute fresh food from their gardens to the local community.

When we consider the word Hope, we think of little Sanelisiwe, a toddler who came to the shelter shortly before we arrived. She had been abandoned by her mother for days and the only brief care she received was from passing strangers. Although she has not been tested, because she does not have a birth certificate and her mother has disappeared, she most likely carries the HIV virus. At first, no one could approach her crib without her bursting into tears and crying loudly. The only way the sisters and caregivers could get her to stop was by tossing a blanket over her head. Gradually, she allowed people to hold her, and then to give her small amounts of food. By the time we left Assisi, she would grin happily whenever we opened the door to the shelter. She would play with the other children and was so proud of her little frilly dress. To us, it was a minor miracle!

The other program African AIDS Angels contributes to is Born to Live at St. Mary’s Hospital just outside Durban. Drugs are given to pregnant moms to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. About 4,000 babies and 3,500 mothers have gone through this program with a 95 per cent success rate. The AAA money provides counseling so the drugs are taken appropriately. If the drugs are not taken properly, the therapy would fail.

Angel Supplies

Where to find angel making supplies

Angel making kit complete with:

Angel bodies, with 15 hair and 5 without

Name tags

Raffia

Glue sticks

Will be available from Mary after May 12.

Send a message to africanaidsangels@gmail.com to arrange pick up.


The following are also available:

Fabric, bling, ribbon, beads

Remember:

Angels can be delivered to angel making sessions.

Come to pick up materials, or exchange fabric even if you do not have time to stop and make angels with the group.

See dates and locations posted on the blog.

Reports from the Field

Over forty people attended our information meeting in Victoria on March 13th. We were able to get a much better sense of the impact of our fundraising efforts. Vic and Lorraine Parsons described the family atmosphere provided by the nuns at Thembalethu Orphanage in South Africa and the community outreach work they are also doing. AIDS Angels will be providing funds to assist with the outreach program in future.

Pierre and Lee Ann Dil presented a slide show about Makeni and the orphanage in Zambia that you can view on You Tube. Check below for the links.

Teddy Phiri sent a report and photos from Malawi about one of the families we are supporting. That is included below.

You can find more photos by checking the website.

Malawi Report

Teddy Phiri, one of our Malawi contacts has sent this report about a family that we are supporting. This gives a good picture of the larger issues that this family and others affected by AIDS are facing. Further comments in italics.

This family of Mr and Mrs Ngwata live in Dunduzu area about 10 km from Mzuzu City. Both of them are on ARV treatment. (Anti-retroviral drugs suppress the symptoms of Aids and may allow the person to assume some of their responsbilities). One child died in January 2008. He was also on ARV treatment. They have had 8 children, 5 are still living. Their eldest, a daughter, just disappeared leaving behind two children. The last-born child who is 7 months old also shows signs of being HIV positive.

Discovery of HIV Status

The husband in 2004 became very sick. After tests at the hospital, he was diagnosed as HIV positive and the wife was also tested and she was found positive too. Immediately both of them were put on ARVs.

Community Support

They feel no segregation in the community despite their illness. The village Headman is very supportive to the family ever since they declared their HIV status openly. (in the past many people were isolated and shunned when their HIV status became known)

Acceptance by their Children

Both parents informed their children of their status. The children are very supportive to their parents. For example the oldest boy and daughter are the main income generators of the family through general farming and vegetable gardening. They always make sure that parents have taken the ARVs. Due to a shortage of fertilizer they mix fertilizer and maize husks in their vegetable gardens. The vegetables grow very well (This was a new lesson learnt by us).

(Because soils in Malawi are depleted by overfarming, chemical fertilizer is necessary . However, soil can only be rebuilt with organic matter such as compost and manure. These young farmers have made a good discovery)

Education
The wife Elita is playing a vital role in the community by encouraging people to go for testing. They informed us that there are many people in the village who are on ARVs due to their civic education.

Availability of ARVs

The medications are always available at the hospital and hospital staff are very supportive.

African Aids Angels Support.

The family is supported by African Aids Angels in the following way.

1. Seeds and fertilizer for their farm.
2. Youth training: One boy dropped out of school in Standard 7 in order to help the family. He is receiving training in market gardening and is provided with seeds and tools to grow vegetables.

Zambia slide show/video

For all those who missed the James Bay slide shows, here's a You-tube version of the presentation from Pierre and Lee Ann Dil.

Read the note below, then click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N6rGstJKFQ


Suggestions and notes about what you will see:

The presentation may take a while to download. If you set it up and walk away, you can return when it is downloaded. Then you can enjoy the music and images without interruption.

In sequence you will see maps to orient you to Makeni which is located on the outskirts of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Next come photos of Lusaka to give you a flavor of the city.

Then you move to Makeni where you will see some of the workshops and photos of Rev. and Mrs. Dil, the founders of Makeni and Pierre’s parents. The orphanage is part of Makeni and you will see lots of photos of the children at work and play. Look for the “Keep Zambia Clean” day and the children’s swimming field trip. The soccer players are wearing uniforms donated from clubs in Victoria. Finally you will see the additions to the dormitories. More space is needed as some of the orphans enter adolescence. The buildings were funded by an Aids Angels special donation and by funds from donors in Holland.

Coming to James Bay, Victoria

New Group
James Bay
Victoria

An African Aids Angels group is starting up at the James Bay Community Project.

547 Michigan

The group will meet every Thursday morning from 10 until 11:30 a.m.

Many thanks to Catriona Campbell for organizing this new location.

How much did we earn in 2007 and where is it going?

Through the efforts of a large group of volunteers, in 2007 African AIDS Angels raised $75,000.

Donation Sources:

Victoria shops: $8000
Out of Town groups: $15,500
Angel makers: $8300 informally, among friends and acquaintances
Home Fair/Tea: $6200 in one afternoon
Craft Fairs: $5000
Seeds for Malawi (Saltspring): $14,000

The rest is made up of generous donations and many small fundraisers.
These figures are rounded. A detailed financial report will be presented at our AGM later this year. The total is slightly higher than 2006.

Where will it make a difference in southern Africa?

The Board of Directors decided that the money raised will be spent as follows:

1. Zambia orphanage

$5000 has been sent to the building fund
$10,000 will go for orphan support
$7000 will be considered for a new project proposal

2. South Africa orphanage

$12,000 will go for orphan support
$2000 will go for community outreach (family support)

3. South Africa hospital

$20,000 will go for support of mothers & children with HIV

4. Malawi agriculture & family support

$14,000 has been sent from Saltspring's Seeds for Malawi
$3000 will go for hospice programs.

A small balance covers expenses, mainly angel bodies and printing.
These figures are rounded. A detailed financial report will be presented at our AGM later this year.

New group in Los Angeles

A group of keen angel makers has formed in Los Angeles, and a shop in Venice California is displaying their work. These photos show their creative dreadlocks for hair. They also have good display tool: it's a tree branch in a vase full of sand. Congratulations.

Map of National and International Angels

Where in the WORLD are YOU!

We want to map angel groups, raising funds for African Aids Angels, that are located outside of Victoria, B.C. Canada.

We'll send an email to the groups we know about but if we miss you, please send an email to africanaidsangels@gmail.com to let us know where you are.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Map of the Victoria Angels

Where are you?

We would like to make a map to locate angel making groups.

If you are making angels at your home in Victoria, as an individual or as part of a group, we'd like to know where you are located. This will help us plan how to distribute materials effectively.

We'll be sending emails to home groups that we know about. If we miss you and you are planning to make angels any time this year, please send an email at africanaidsangels @gmail.com and tell us where you are located.

Congratulations and Thank You

From Nov. 16^th to Dec. 31^st African Aids Angels volunteers from all over Vancouver Island, the lower Mainland, and several other locations in Canada and the USA have raised $32,800 for our four projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

Thank you to everyone who worked for this goal in many different ways….

“hairdressers” … “body makers”…face painters…fabric cutters….angel dressers…collectors of jewelry, fabric and bling….dressing session organizers….craft fair organizers and participants…the home craft fair crew…our diligent and hard working Board….the shops that sponsor us all year round and those who stock the shops….the name tag volunteers…the supply shoppers…those who spread the word about angels

Watch the blog for a summary of our full year of fundraising and how we will disburse it.

Makeni and Thembalethu

New Photos

Go to the website (green box top right of this screen: click on African Aids Angels)

then click on What’s New

and connect to two lovely photo galleries of up to date pictures from Zambia and South Africa.

Our travellers have returned safely and have pictures to share.

Aids Angels go International

A special welcome

to the new groups that are beginning this year,

especially those in the USA and the UK.

A note from Pender Island

I wanted to let you know that all those little angels on Pender Island brought in approximately $2,481 in 2007.

It is all very amazing...so simple, and so grass-roots.

How Can I get Involved?

New Members

Our volunteers are taking a short break in January. If you are new and want to get involved with Aids Angels here are things to do until the next angel making session.

Read through our website and blog (check back through the archives). This will give you a good idea of our history and the purpose of our organization.

You can start collecting materials that can be used to make angels

*double wired ribbon (for wings),

*bits of old jewelry (rings, brooches and earrings are best),

*African or ethnic looking fabric. At the moment we have lots of cotton prints.

*feathers

If you are outside the Victoria, B.C. area ask for the email manual “Making a Difference” and begin to plan.

Anyone who wants to be on our email contact list can send an email to africanaidsangels@gmail.com. We will include you on our contact list and send you brief email message when there is new information on the blog. ( every 2-3 weeks.)

Angels in Campbell River

News Link

click below for news of the African Aids Angels group in Campbell River

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/campbellrivermirror/lifestyles/11384341.html

Inspiration for Angel Makers

Song for Nkosi

Simon Fraser Elementary School Peace Choir’s favourite song was written by their Choir Master, Marisa Orth-Pallavicini and her fellow songwriter, Pat Davit. It is called "For Nkosi", and is dedicated to Nkosi Johnson, an 11-year-old South African, who addressed the 13th International Aids Conference in Durban in 2000.

His entreaty to everyone is featured in the song:

"Do all that you can,

with all that you have,

in the time that you have,

in the place where you are."

This link will give you more information about Nkosi. Note the connection between his story and the comments that Vic writes (below) about the ARV program at St. Mary's hopsital.

http://www.simplytaty.com/bios/nkosi.htm

Angel Donations

Where Do I send the Money?

Many of you are making angels at home and getting donations from friends and family. That's a great!

The most efficient, carbon neutral way of handling those funds is:

1. Write a cheque to African Aids Angels for the same amount (i.e. you raise $75 from your home, keep the cash and write an equivalent cheque)

2. send a message to africanaidsangels@gmail.com and ask where to send the funds.

Zambia Return

Pierre and Lee Ann Dil have just returned safely from their time working at Makeni in Zambia. They have lots of photos which we will get posted, hopefully soon after Christmas.

Teddy Phiri's Message

Appreciation from Malawi

This was just received from Teddy Phiri in Malawi.

Read it and give yourself a pat on the back!

Just wanted to remind you that we appreciate your special talent. You are the best
fund raisers. Do you imagine how any millions of Malawi kwachas you have raised
for the suffering Malawiians and yet you have not lost your zeal and
dedication since 2002.You have convinced many people to donate
materially, in time, financially and in marketing , selling etc. May God bless you
abundantly.

As usual we cherish the special visits made by Canadian friends to the
beneficiaries .The visits cement the special bond between beneficiaries and
the donors. (referring to a possible trip next year by a new volunteer)

The weather has become so unpredictable nowadays.

Greet all the good people.


Teddy

Report from South Africa

Thembalethu and ST. Mary's Hospital

Vic and Lorraine Parsons have just returned from Thembalethu Orphanage in South Africa. They have also visited St. Mary's Hospital. These are the two projects that we support in South Africa.

Here is Vic's first note to African Aids Angels.

It is a constant source of amazement to the people we visited in South Africa how much Canadians, and I presume other people in the world, care about the African AIDS pandemic. They cannot seem to comprehend how much, and why, we care about them. Everywhere Lorraine and I went, we were embraced as sister and brother to them, and when tried speaking a few words of our pitiful Zulu, they would break out in broad smiles and often hug us. Let no one ever tell you, our brave volunteers, that you don't make a difference!

On our return this week we read about the stupendous effort of the students in raising $3500, and the house sales results, Great work!

There is so much that has been done, and so much to accomplish. We visited St Mary's Hospital last week and got in-depth explanations of where our funds go in the Born To Live program, which provides ARVs to pregnant mothers to prevent mother-to-child trasmission of HIV. Since the program started, 3000 mothers have participated in the program, and 4,000 babies are involved, with a success rate of 95 per cent. The South African government, with funding assistance from the US, now provides these drugs to the mothers. Where our money goes is to a vital part of the program, that is, counselling and outreach to make sure that the mothers are taking the drugs properly. Many of the mothers have very little education, have lives that are very disruptive, and there is risk that if the drug regime is not followed the program would fail. The hospital authorities say this is just about an important part of the program as the drugs themselves.

Angels in Port Alberni

Finding Angels in Port Alberni

On Dec. 5, Larry and Mary traveled to Port Alberni to meet with most of the fifteen members of the Xi Chi Chaper of Beta Sigma Phi. This group adopted African Aids Angels as their service project for 2007. They made about 250 angels and raised well over $1200. Capelli’s hairdressing school and the Clock Tower Studio Gallery displayed the Angels in their shops. Pat Miller was our contact for the day and Julia Rutter hosted the meeting.

What Happened at the Craft Fairs?

Angel Craft Fairs

The Angels have just completed two busy weeks of Craft Fairs.

A warm thank you to organizers and the dozens of volunteers who worked so hard to make these events such a success.

We have taken part in fairs at Commonwealth Pool, Hillside, Fair Trade, the Home
Craft Fair, Dickens Fair plus many smaller events at various churches and home parties. Our total raised over the last two weeks is over $12,000.

Congratulations!

Terrific Students

Thank You Oak Bay High!

Oak Bay High School’s student leadership group fasted for 24 hours starting at 8 am Nov. 16^th. They took pledges in the days leading up to their fast and presented African Aids Angels with a cheque for $3524.73 on the afternoon of the 16th, just as everyone was starting to get really hungry.

Thanks to a great group of involved, energetic and compassionate students!

Parksville Qualicum group excels

Juliana Kratz spearheads a busy workshop of angel makers with the Parksville Qualicum Kairos group. They work throughout the year and their angels have produced significant donations to AIDS Angels projects. Congratulations and thanks go to them.

This picture and a story appeared in the Parksville Qualicum Beach News on November 9. Currently the story is available as a link here.

Give a Gift of Hope

We now have gift cards which you can use to honour your friends and family. If you wish to make a donation to African Aids Angels projects on someone's behalf, we will provide a card to let the person know.

Inside the card is an explanation of the work done by African Aids Angels. You can give the card to friends, co-workers, relatives, or to anyone you would like to acknowledge.

The minimum amount is $15, and there is no maximum. $50 will support 1 child for one month in an orphanage, and $35 will pay for school fees for one year.

If you would like to make a donation and receive a gift card, please send a cheque to African AIDS Angels, c/o 1855 Neil St., Victoria BC V8R 3C6. Please indicate clearly the name and address for mailing the card, including postal code. We can send it to you or the recipient. If you have questions, please email to africanaidsangels@gmail.com.

News from the Thembalethu Orphanage

Vic and Lorraine Parsons, the founders of African Aids Angels, are currently in South Africa, working at Thembalethu Orphanage, one of the four projects supported by the Angels.

Here is a note from them:

We are taking a couple of days off from the children's shelter at Shelly Beach which is on the Indian Ocean so thought I should e-mail you. It has been very difficult getting to a place with internet here and the telephones have been out at Assisi for more than a week due to severe thunderstorms.

I wanted to tell a bit about the kids. We are being very well looked after here, and the kids are great. They run to us now with great excitement(when we arrive each morning.

One of them, Siyabonga, which means :We thank you, is HIV positive and had to be taken to hospital at 11 p.m. about two weeks ago. He was severely dehydrated but has returned in much better shape.

Two little girls who were afraid of our white faces have become close buddies now. One, Amahle, meaning Beautiful One, is about three. No one really knows her name and parents as she was abandoned on the street until someone turned her over to the Sisters for care.

A second one was Sanelisiwe, who is very thin, and probably HIV+. She cried about 75 p.c. of her waking hours and the first time we saw her smile was when we took her into the play area and blew bubbles with the kids. Now she giggles and plays with toys all the time, and really brightens up when we come near. The Sisters were very concerned about her because for a long time she refused to eat, but now she feed happily.

Another little girl is Nomussselelo, who is six. She just came to the shelter last week. Her father has died of AIDS and her mother is quite sick, and she came to the shelter with her own meds, and is HIV too. She is quite a talented artist for a girl her age and speaks English quite well.

When Lorraine asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she said: "Happy."

James Bay Angels?

James Bay

We have had a number of inquiries from the James Bay area . Several people are hoping to make angels in their neighbourhood.

Do you live in the James Bay area and have space for a group or 5 or 6 people to come to your home to make angels once or twice before Christmas?

If you are interested: contact Mary at lmbomford@gmail.com

Malawi News

Funds to Malawi

African Angels in Malawi have presented their budget for 2007/2008.

We are pleased to be able to provide all of the items. We forwarded $16,000 to cover:

A. School fees,uniforms, books and kerosene for 45 orphanned students.

Why kerosene? The students will use it to light their lamps to study by. Many do not have electricity in their homes.

B. Farm inputs (seeds and fertilizer) for 80 families.

C. Agricultural training in market gardening for 30 boys and girls who have finished high school and are willing to try market gardening as a business.

D. Hospice nutrition support for 20 individuals. This includes funds for those who feel healthy enough to raise chickens for income.

Seeds For Malawi our sister group on Saltspring have joined with us in a closer partnership. They will fund the majority of the African Angels Malawi budget and channel their funds through AAA Victoria.

The Walls Go Up

St. Francis Orphanage

After a long wait the walls of the girls dormitory at St. Francis Orphanage, Makeni, have begun to go up. This building was funded by a generous supporter of African Aids Angels in Victoria.

Click on the website africanaidsangels.googlepages.com, go to Zambia, click on the child’s photo and it will go to photos of the construction at the orphanage.

Women of Malawi

Florence Moyo

What happened?

What happened to the women we have been supporting in Mzuzu Malawi? Last year, Rob Shaw of the Times Colonist interviewed many of these women who have been hard hit by Aids. His reporting had a great impact on readers all over Vancouver Island. Teddy Phiri, our African Angels contact in Malawi has just sent us an update on their situation.

Alice Lungu is one of a group of four women who are now on anti-retorviral drugs. This year, all four of these women are healthy because of the government supplied drugs and the food support provided by Aids Angels. They are all debt free and have begun small market businesses, selling baked scones, tomatoes and other vegetables, and charcoal.

Mrs. Amensty Longwe one of a six member widows’ support group, also interviewed by Rob, is now well enough to have found a support staff job at a local motel. She has plans to augment her income by sewing or vegetable selling at the local market.

Florence Moyo, with farm input funds from Aids Angels, has been able to grow enough maize to support herself and her three children.

As a result of African Aids Angels support, all of the women who were interviewed last year are alive, healthy and many engaged in small businesses. Their lives are not easy but they are there for their children and their communities. We are proud to be part of their support system and grateful to Teddy and Delirah, Vincent and Gilda whose hard work as volunteers make it possible for us to provide some relief in their community.

Expand the Network

Bring a neighbour

Bring a friend/mom/sister

Help us expand the angel making network.

This fall we are encouraging all Angellers to bring along a friend, a neighbour or relative to a dressing session. We want to inspire new angel makers.

Throughout the summer the Angels flew off the shelves. The shops which support us are looking forward to a good supply of angels for the fall and into the Christmas season.

We also have the opportunity for displays at Hillside and other Christmas craft events.

People always respond best to personal invitations. Who can you invite?

Angel Party

Angel Party

To all experienced Angellers.

This fall, plan an angel making party. Many people have found that they enjoy making angels at home with a small group of friends in afternoon or evening.

We can provide you with a compact kit of all the materials you need for 4 or 5 people to make angels. The kit will include some sample angels as examples to get people started.

If you want to try this out email africanaidsangels@gmail.com and arrange to pick up the kit.

New Shop, New Signs

New Shop

New Signs

African Aids Angels welcome the Global Village Store in Market Square.

Global Village will be selling Angels for $7.00 plus tax. This is the first time that there will be a fixed price for angels at a particular location. This change accommodates the way that Global Village markets their crafts. We are delighted that they have asked to help us with Aids Angels. The shop markets items that help third world crafters receive a living wage for their work. It is an excellent spot to check out.

We are also trying to encourage people to consider a larger donation for the Angels. All the other shops that offer the angels for a donation have a new sign for the display spinner.

Side 1 says:

African Aids Angels

suggested donation:

Side 2 says:

$5 minimum

3kg of seed to start a garden = $7

10 days of orphan care = $10

We are trying to see if this will prompt more donations. At least it will give people a sample of how some of our funds are used.

If you wish to comment on this change please email: africanaidsangels@gmail.com

If you want to know where to find Angels check our website.

28

Summer Angel Reading

28, by Stephanie Nolan, the Globe and Mail’s Africa correspondent is getting excellent reviews.

Nolan has told the story of 28 individuals affected by Aids to represent the human side of Aids in Africa. Each story represents 1 million people impacted by the disease.

Where Did All the Money Go?

2007 Funds sent to Projects.

African Aids Angels raised over $70,000 in 2006. At the beginning of 2007 we consulted with our projects to determine their needs and responded to each of them. Here are the details.

African Aids Angels Victoria has disbursed $12,000 to Thembalethu Orphanage. http://africanaidsangels.googlepages.com/south . Our group is providing all of the 2007 funding for this small orphanage that cares for about 30 children. Thembalethu is officially a half-way house that keeps children until they can be adopted. It does not qualify as an official orphanage and as a result does not receive funding from the South African government. However there are few adoption homes and in effect it is functioning as an orphanage with minimal resources.

Vic and Lorraine Parsons, the founders of AAA Victoria will be traveling to South Africa and assisting at Thembalethu this fall. They will be able to see for themselves what the children need and how we can best assist. We look forward to their stories and reports.

Mariannhill Hospital , http://www.stmarys.co.za/ , has received $20,000 for the Born to Live Program. This comprehensive program provides Anti-retroviral drugs to pregnant mothers with AIDS to prevent the transmission of Aids to their newborns. This treatment is 90% effective. The South African government now provides the funds for the ARV drugs. AAA Victoria’s funds go to provide adequate food for the mother and child and also support from social workers. Vic and Lorraine will also visit Mariannhill to see how our funds are being used.

St. Nicholas Orphanage at Makeni Ecumenical Center http://www.makeni.org.uk/orph_news.htm in Zambia, has received two separate funding allotments. A generous donor from Victoria has provided $15,000 to build a new dormitory for the girls at the orphanage. The funds are currently held in trust as Makeni works through the paperwork for building permits. It seems like it’s the same the whole world over when it comes to working with City Hall! A recent email from Makeni:

"Gordon Wadey had been working hard with one of our Board members, Joe Pollen to get everything in order for the orphanage extension. The drawings have been done professionally, and submitted to the City
Council. "

We have also sent $10,160 towards the day to day running of the orphanage and other AIDS relief programs at Makeni.

Pierre (our Board member) and Lee Ann Dil will be working at the orphanage this fall for three months. Once again we are so fortunate as a funding group to have this direct contact with the people we support.

AAA is holding funds to distribute to our Mzuzu, Malawi group in September. http://africanaidsangels.googlepages.com/malawi This funding supports Aids widows and their children by providing farm inputs of seeds and fertilizers so that these family fragments can have assistance in being self-supporting. Our funds are co-ordinated with the planting year. Crops are are sown in October and November. We also pay secondary school fees for orphans and provide some hospice food aid as requested.

Mary and Larry Bomford are the contacts for Malawi. They do not have a trip planned to our project in Mzuzu in the near future but we have a regular email connection with Teddy Phiri our contact there.

How Does the Money Get to Africa

How Do you Send Money to the Projects?

Aids Angels Victoria has a community account with Island Savings and Credit Union. They organize the transactions direct from our account in Victoria to the bank accounts of our projects overseas.

Angel Hair

Angels Bald and Haired

Marg, our faithful organizer of bald angels in need of hair, is moving house. For the next few months contact Mary Bomford africanaidsangels@gmail.com either to get haired angels or to pick up angels and wool. Marg will pick up this task again once she is settled in her new home.

Glorious News!!

News Release:

Stephen Lewis' successor is Elizabeth Mataka

Dear All,

It is my joy and pride to announce to you that Elisabeth Mataka, the ED for Zambia National

AIDS Network-ZNAN (One of the few civil society primary recipients of the Global Fund) has

been chosen as the United Nations special envoy for AIDS in Africa- a position

previously held by Stephen Lewis.

This does me proud as a woman, does us all proud as African Civil Societies fighting against

AIDS TB and Malaria. They will no longer be told about what happens in Africa- They will

SEE it through an African's eyes.

Elisabeth wears many many hats- Since 2006, Elisabeth has served as the Board member

for developing Countries NGO delegation at the Global Fund Board and we had the pleasure

of working with her to build a strong civil society voice on the Global Fund Board.

Recently the Global Fund Board recognised her contributions and hard work and appointed

her to serve as the Vice Chair of the Global Fund Board for year 2007-2008.

Join me in congratulating Elisabeth and wishing her all the best in these challenging but truly

noble tasks ahead of her.

Go Liz Go!!! Let Africa speak!!!

Lucy Ng'ang'a

Executive Director

EANNASO

Eastern Africa.

Malawi Students Get -Together

Teddy Phiri, our Malawi contact in Mzuzu, gathered the orphanned students whose school fees are paid by African Aids Angels Victoria and our sister group Seeds for Malawi.
You can see him addressing the group. (Teddy is wearing the white and grey shirt).

Malawi Youth Agricultural Training Program

More notes from Teddy Phiri, describing the field day for youth who are learning how to become market gardeners.

55 men and women attended the show. They were 2 senior traditional chiefs, 3 senior chiefs, 1 teacher from nearby primary school, 1 veterinary field officer and 1 agriculture field officer (trainer). They had come from several villages surrounding Lusangazi demonstration garden.

The field day was organized to show the parents and the general public what the youth in the area had learned through training and the Demonstration.

Lottie Chirwa, leader of the youth group in Lusangazi area, gave brief history of the group. 10 boys and 2 girls were selected. The Agriculture Field Officer trained the group for 14 days in modern methods of farming, farm management and leadership skills. A demonstration field was chosen to demonstrate what they had learned. They planted a number of vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, tomatoes etc. A quarter of an acre of corn was also planted using the easiest and cheapest method.

Children of Makeni, Zambia

Manyando, Gloria and Esther

Here stories of some of the orphans who are being cared for at Makeni. African Aids Angels are providing support to build a new dormitory and also some of the funds for day to day operation.

The St. Nicholas Village for Orphans gives the children a sense of security and continuity, whoever comes and goes, they have a roof over their heads, food and guaranteed education.

Manyando, eight years old, came to the St. Nicholas Village for Orphans four years ago. She has a loving grandmother, who works at the market place just opposite the Makeni Centre but she has many orphaned grandchildren, and even working all day at the market, she cannot make ends meet, or pay for schooling for Manyando, who is the youngest of her grandchildren. Manyando lost both her parents to AIDS four years ago.

Gloria and Esther , nine years and 13 years, are bright intelligent sisters. They come from a household that had been stable and happy, but which had been totally shattered when first their father and then their mother died of AIDS. They went to stay with an aunt, who was a nurse at the Makeni Centre Clinic. That is how the Orphan Home heard about them. The aunt had lost her husband, and when she discovered that she too was dying, started distributing the children in her care. Her own children would go to relatives. She begged the St. Nicholas Orphan Home to take Esther and Gloria. At that stage the Orphanage was fresh off the drawing board. Esther became the very first child of the St. Nicholas Village for Orphans. Gloria came later. Esther always comes top of her class academically. Her mother, like her aunt was a nurse, and both Esther and Gloria want to be nurses too.

More support for Makeni

We Believe in Angels

In December we received a generous donation of $10,000 to assist in building the new girls dormitory at the orphanage in Makeni. (see below)

The donors have returned with a further $5000 to make sure that the building is funded to completion. There is also discussion about providing some personal items for the girls when the building opens.

Makeni is full of gratitude for this wonderful gift.

It makes us believe in angels!

Malawi message

A message from Teddy Phiri our Malawi contact. The Youth Programme is providing agricultural training for orphanned teens who are finished school It is funded by Seeds for Malawi, our Saltspring sister group.

The Youth Programme is doing very well. We had a very good field
day where by chiefs, government extension officers, local population came
to view the youth garden of maize.We had more than 50 people.It was very
successful and people really appreciated the efforts of agricultural
development through the youth.


Teddy

Dancing Aids in Malawi

The Village is Tilting: Dancing Aids in Malawi

Feb. 6 to Sept. 3, 2007

Museum of Anthropology at UBC

A ground breaking exhibit of the Gulu Wamkulu secret society masks from Malawi. These masks are being used in reinvented dances to open up the message of AIDS. The exhibit contains dozens of video interviews with Malawiians expressing their beliefs and fears about AIDS.

Check the Musuem of Anthropology website www.moa.ub.ca for more information.

March 8 to March 10 will feature discussions on Perceptions of Africa.

Marion Recommends

There is No One Without You

One woman’s odyssey to rescue Africa’s children by Melissa Fay Green.

Marion recommends this as a good account of Aids as it affects children in Africa.

Thanks from Malawi

This letter was forwarded by Teddy Phiri, our contact in Malawi. Stuart's wife died of AIDS. He is HIV positive but is now on anti-retroviral drugs. He is working with others to educate them about AIDS. Now that his health is stronger he is able to support his five children. One of the great benefits of ARVs is that they keep the parents alive to support their children.

The Coordinator

AAA Project

Mzuzu

Dear Sir / Madam

Re: WORD OF THANKS

I write to thank you for saving my life. I would have been dead without you. You did not stop at just saving my life but you have continued looking after me all through out from 2003 you have been looking after me through with life necessities such as days provision you have provided daily bread when sick, you taken me to the hospital, you have been giving me medicine, providing me soap, sugar, blankets and fertilizer when my family was lacking you giving me poles, wrap plastic paper for roofing and cash for grass.

I cannot say all what you do for me to date, I want you to understand that I am very thankful for all what you are doing for me, it is not easy for you to come all the way up to my house and appreciate my problems please keep it up.

May the Good Lord Almighty Bless You.

Thank you.

Stuart Mhango.

Angel Fundraising 2006

Fundraising Total 2006

Our final tally for last year’s fundraising was $72,000.

Since we began in 2001, we have raised a total of $150,000.

You can see how quickly we have grown.

In 2006, half our funds came from angel sales and half came from donations. We are a registered society but not a federally registered charity. However, our donors are very supportive because they like to know where our funds are going. They appreciate our direct project links. See the Thanks from Zambia section for one example.

How Much goes to Africa?

How much of your fundraising goes to Africa?

Over six year operation, 93% of our funds have gone directly to our 4 projects. Most of the 7% expenses covers the cost of buying the wooden pegs and beads, the glue and the wool that make up the base of the angel bodies.

How Many Angels?

How Many Angels have been Made?

Since 2001, Aids Angels Victoria have made 20,000 angels.

Thanks from Zambia

Thanks from Zambia

This message comes from Mrs. Dil at St. Nicholas Orphanage in Makeni, Zambia.

A very generous donation to African Aids Angels Victoria has enabled us to provide funding to build a new dormitory for the orphanned girls at Makeni. She addressed it Dr. Dil and his wife Lee Ann, our contacts for this project.

Dear Pierre and Leeann,

I became aware of this wonderful news ( funding for the dorm) on Sunday evening when Anton phoned me from England, but lost two very enthusiastic letters of thanks to you and AAA when we had power failures. As it happened in the daytime, I had nothing to warn me of the power failure until the computer stopped and I completely lost my messages !

We have had very good daily rains, but also daily electricity and telephone failures,.

…immediately convey to them (AAA and the donor) our heartfelt thanks for this wonderful gift. We are totally overwhelmed !!

We struggle with the immense workload, trying to keep uptodate with 21st century equipment, while the elements… and financial constraints, resulting in short-staffing, are constantly sabotaging us.

It is now 11.30 at night Tues. and I could reread your amazing news for the first time since yesterday morning, at 10am, when we had a powercut till 5pm, and I have since had no use of my telephone.

We have got in touch with the builders, and will let you know as soon as we start.

I am hoping that Truus and Jan will be coming out, sometime in this year, and it will be a lovely project for the children to do with Jan. I can just imagine the building covered with flying Angels ! (one of these guests is an artist, who could paint the dorm walls with angels)

At first we were only going to do an extension for the girls dormitory, but now we will try to do the same for the boys. Truus and Jan and friends of MEC in Holland and Flanders, have also been doing fundraising for this project, since it is quite expensive, so we will put our resources together.

As soon as we have done our sums and checked our combined finances, we will give you exact details of how your money will be spent.

Once again, grateful thanks and love

Blog Count

Blog

Look at the bottom right hand column. You will see a counter that tells how many people have looked at our blog since January 1, 2007.

Click on View My Stats then on Recent Visitor Map to see where the last 100 contacts
came from. Someone from Poland checked in this week, plus many hits from all over North America.