Are you concerned about HIV AIDS?

Our recent visit to both Zambia and Malawi has shown us that the YMCAs there are actively involved in tackling AIDS in their communities.

Zambia

Zambia YMCA was established fifty years ago and now has thirteen branches across this huge country, which is three times the size of the UK. 1.1 million people in the country are infected with HIV – 17% of all 15-49 year olds. Unemployment is around 50%.

Activities by Zambia YMCA to tackle AIDS

Care for AIDS orphans - supporting children who have been orphaned by AIDS in the Chibombo area of Zambia (with donations from Nottinghamshire YMCA staff and associates). The orphans are cared for by ladies in the community. The extra support enables the children to have enough food to eat and to be able to go to school.
Education to peers - groups of young people who, as members of YMCA sports and drama groups, do presentations at sports tournaments and in schools to educate their peers about the dangers of AIDS at Chibombo and elsewhere in Zambia.
Training to provide employment - for young people, often those infected with or at risk of infection from HIV.

Zambia YMCA

Zambia YMCA was established fifty years ago and now has thirteen branches across this huge country, which is three times the size of the UK. A number of activities are similar to those of Nottinghamshire YMCA such as training, empowerment and sports. But the YMCAs in Zambia use many of these activities to educate young people about AIDS or to given employment to people living with HIV or who may be at risk of contracting HIV if they remain unemployed.

We visited a tailoring training course near Kabwe and a training centre in Lusaka (the capital) for pre-school teachers.

In Chibombo (an area between Landless Corner and Kabwe) there is an active YMCA. Through the YMCA orphans are supported so their carers can give them enough food and send them to school. Most or possibly all of these children will be AIDS orphans. The money comes from staff and associates of Nottinghamshire YMCA. Currently 14 orphans are being supported. There are 25 more on the waiting list – local people have taken them in to support them but have no extra money to send them to school since they may also be caring for their own children.

We met some of the ladies caring for the orphans (many of them are widows) and some of the orphans who are being sponsored or are waiting for sponsorship – the rest were in school.

Malawi

Unlike Zambia, the YMCA here is just beginning. But YMCA members are already working hard to reduce the rate of HIV infection in their communities.

Malawi has an HIV infection incidence of 14% among its adult population. In the southern area however it is higher – around 18%. The first YMCA in the country is based in this southern region, in Chikwawa. Here a group of young people have created a band which goes round five villages and local primary schools, encouraging children to stay in school and avoid AIDS, and families to protect themselves from this virus. The band is called Tipewe Eidze which means “Avoid AIDS”, and they sound fantastic!

There are many more activities which the YMCA in Malawi would like to undertake in future. It has great potential to enable young people to avoid HIV infection and live their lives to the full.

Return to the International Page

 

HIV AIDS Figures

Why are people concerned about AIDS and what can we do to change the situation?

• Worldwide a child is orphaned by AIDS every 15 seconds.
• Half a million babies were born with HIV in 2006.
• 80% of all children orphaned by AIDS – 12 million – live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• 60% of all people living with HIV are in Sub-Saharan Africa, although only 10% of the world’s population live there
• 40% of all infections among adults in 2007 were in young people aged 15-24 years old.

So what’s the YMCA doing about it? As an international organisation, there are YMCA branches across the world. This includes YMCAs in many sub-saharan African countries. Nottinghamshire YMCA has partnerships with YMCAs in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.

• Life expectancy at birth is 40
• 17% of 15-49 year olds in Zambia are infected with HIV
• 1.1 million people are living with AIDS
• 87% of people live on less than £1 a day
• Unemployment rate is around 50% (2000 estimate)

International Child Sponsorship

In April 2006 we introduced our Sponsor a Child scheme. It costs just £12 per month to support a child in Zambia, providing them with food, clothing and an education. Please download the flyer to find out more about getting involved in this worthwhile scheme.

	Download the Child Sponsorship Flyer 1.38MB (PDF Document)
	Download the Orphan Waiting List 22KB (PDF Document)
	For PC - Right-Click and choose Save Target As...
	For Mac - Ctrl-Click and choose Download Linked File As...

Support Us

If you would like to support our international efforts in any way, then please visit our support us section to learn more about...

• Making a donation
• Sponsoring a Child in Zambia
• Leaving a legacy

To learn more of all our work across the globe, please visit our International Page.

To find out about supporting AIDS orphans in Chibombo, please send us an email to international@nottsymca.org