In Kenya, HEART Africa is advancing programs to help single, HIV infected mothers survive and thrive in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. With a root goal of helping preventing children from becoming orphans, HEART has established programs which are positioning and empowering these women and children for a future once thought unimaginable.
The stigma of a single HIV positive woman in Africa is considerable. Most are ostracized from their families, cast into the slums where they must raise their children, regain health and support the family unit sometimes with few skills or abilities. Many simply die.
HEART- “Health Education Africa Resource Team” has established the Women’s Equality Empowerment Project “WEEP” which finds these single mothers, helps them regain health and food security. They have broadened their approach into not only in health but into job training, business development, micro financing and education. They have expanded their influence into the rural areas where they support education and security for girls along with education for the children of WEEP mothers. They support health for young women in menstruation and deal with issues of young marriage, pregnancy and female genital mutilation. They work proactively within the most extreme elements of male and maasai culture.
I had an opportunity to explore partnership opportunities with the HEART Africa Team in March and I will be working with them moving forward on organizational development, micro financing and business development, vocational training and gaining equipment and resources for them to thrive.
In May, the HEART Africa Team will be in the United States and I will be sponsoring opportunities for people to learn the HEART story and how people can support one of the best organization in Africa.
Here is a short overview of what we saw and did while in Kenya and a snapshot into our future endeavors. You even have a chance to see me dancing in the serenade of the most amazing and powerful women I have ever met!
Empowerment Education and Economics- March 2024 Kenya Trip- HEART Africa