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.