Philosophy and Commitment
Twenty-five years ago, at the start of the epidemic in this country, many people turned their backs on people with AIDS. Many others. however, gave their time, talents and money to create a new model of caring for each other. At Food For Thought we believe that we are again at a crossroads in the struggle against HIV/AIDS. Will we tun our backs on people with HIV/ AIDS in the developing world, or will we work together and provide support where possible?
After thoughtful consideration, the Board of Food For Thought created the Project Africa Committee for the purpose of supporting a food program in Africa for people affected by HIV/AIDS.
We chose to work with a project in Namibia in part due to already existing local efforts to provide assistance to this country. Drs Mark Netherda and Anna Baylor from the Sonoma County Center for HIV Prevention and Care have been traveling to Namibia for several years to assist the country with the establishment of a HIV retroviral treatment program. Dr Netherda and his family moved to Namibia in June 2006 for at least a year. His wife Paula is our primary contact for Project Africa initiatives.
Currently, Project Africa is supporting the Okahandja Park Soup Kitchen outside of Windhoek, Namibia. The Soup Kitchen provides a noontime meal for children and pregnant women. For many of these children, the soup kitchen offers them their only meal of the day. Some of the children attend school during the morning at the same site. Okahandja Park is a very impoverished area with high unemployment. Many of the children have lost parents to the HIV epidemic and are cared for by grandparents or unrelated adults in homes built of tin and wood scraps. Most are unsupervised during the daytime. The children could be HIV infected themselves, health care is minimal and illness is frequent and life threatening. The Okahandja Park Soup Kitchen provides a sense of hope for the children of the area.
In 2005, two Sonoma County high school students and a parent traveled to Namibia and worked in the Soup Kitchen and the school for a month.
Efforts are already underway to raise money for this worthy project. We hope you share our vision. Your support, monetary or otherwise, will make a huge difference for the families in Windhoek Namibia that are being devastated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Support from Project Africa has enabled the kitchen to purchase a refrigerator. With additional funding, there are plans for purchase of a freezer and for projects such as a garden. Adequate nutritional information and support related to HIV treatment is needed.
The Food For Thought Board has stipulated that no funds raised for our Sonoma County clients will be diverted to support Project Africa. The Project Africa Committee will be responsible for raising funds to support this effort. We hope to expand beyond out existing community of support and find additional caring people who are ready to respond to this compelling need.