That's a Terrible Idea... When do we Start?!

In this podcast episode, Tanya and Jen come together to discuss Tanya's trip to D.R. Congo.

The American foundation for Children with AIDS helps to support children and caregivers who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our work with program partners includes medical, educational support as well as helping communities to implement sustainability and livelihood projects.

To learn more about the American Foundation for Children with AIDS, you can visit our website 

https://www.afcaids.org/about-us/

Listen in this week as Tanya and Jen connect to talk about how Tanya preps to do program visits in the D.R. Congo.

To learn more about how you can help children with AIDS and to learn more about the work of the American Foundation for Children with AIDS, please visit our website at www.afcaids.org

Jen sits with volunteers Kevin and Kiki for the second half of the episode where the 3 discuss their experiences before, during and after having gone to Zimbabwe with the American Foundation for Children with AIDS's Vacation with a Purpose program.

Jen, Kevin and Kiki had SO much to talk about, we rolled it into a 2 part episode where the three discuss their experiences with AFCA's Vacation with a Purpose to Zimbabwe, and thoughts of how the 2 plan to change their behaviors in order to live more peaceful, mindful lives now that they are home.

Join us for PART 1 of Jen interviewing volunteer super couple Kevin and Kiki as they talk about their takeaways from their Vacation with a Purpose to Zimbabwe this summer. 

Please join us as we discuss period poverty with Executive Director, James Gondwe of the Centre For Youth & Development in Mzuzu, Malawi.

Centre for Youth and Development is a local development non-governmental organization with an innovative people-led approach to delivering United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Children, Youth and Women are the main focus of their development work, and all of their interventions are anchored and centred on sectors of Education, Health and Economic Empowerment, empowering individuals so they build opportunities and responsibilities to develop societies in which others have the right to do better.

Women in rural Malawi often face challenges and cultural taboos around menstruation that create inequity in education, work and other opportunities. AFCA has partnered with James and the Centre For Youth & Development in order to provide period kits, so girls may continue attending school.

To learn more about the Center For Youth & Development and Executive Director James Gondwe, please visit their website here.

To support AFCA's mission of supporting children infected and affected by AIDS, please visit our website at www.afcaids.org

This week is a TAKEOVER episode and Juju Weaver, Tanya's eldest, is in charge of the mic. Listen along as the two talk about what it's like to be raised by humanitarian aid workers. 

This last summer brought a lot of joy, but with that joy also came a lot of hard work. AFCA and Executive Director, Tanya Weaver have been working away behind the scenes to expand on our program's impact to help build sustainable communities. Join us as we discuss the work that happened over the summer to continue to help children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

We all poop, and on this week's episodes, Jen and Tanya talk about the places they've pooped, the worst toilets they've come across, and how open defecation is a real problem for so many people.

In the spirit of #WorldToiletDay, the two discuss the issues that stem from lack of hygiene and sanitation, and what AFCA is doing to help 49 families infected and affected by AIDS gain access to safe and decent toilets. 

Spread the #LOOLOVE with us this #WorldToiletDay and support our hygiene and sanitation project.

You can find more here:

https://www.afcaids.org/sanitation-and-hygiene/

The act or instance of sharing

The word communion when spelled with a little “c” means an act or instance of sharing. As we begin to gather for the holiday seasons to come, a wonderful way to inject some gratitude into these gatherings is to host a communion in your home.

The idea is simple. Gather with a handful of close friends, family, or neighbors, share a bit of food, or drinks, and instead of spending your money on a night out, donate what you would have spent to an AFCA project, and share communion with children infected or affected by AIDS this season.

Meaningful impact

A glass of wine and a cheese board can change the life of a child. What incredible impact the smallest of acts can have on giving someone a hand up in life. When you gather to host a communion in your home, your impact will be reported back to you so that you and your guests can see their kindness in action.

Mindful giving

You have so many choices when it comes to giving back this holiday season, but when you take the time to give mindfully and to know where your dollars are spent, you will have a deeper, more meaningful connection with those that you’re helping. AFCA works directly with our program partners and knows the stories and names of our beneficiaries personally. When you donate to AFCA, you can be sure that your dollars are going directly to those you want to receive help.

Sustainability

AFCA’s programs are built to impact the sustainability of the community long term. Each decision is weighed carefully by community stakeholders. AFCA’s executive director, Tanya Weaver listens to what is needed, how it will be reported on, and how it will impact the community over time. Self-sufficiency, environmental impact, local sourcing of materials, training, job creation, and growth are some of the many aspects considered. We have seen so many of these programs go on to grow, and spread across other communities. One small microloan at a time, funding projects that in turn alleviate extreme poverty in communities.

How this impacts AIDS

There are so many people that need help, but AFCA’s mission is to help children and those that are infected and affected by AIDS. Our work started off with providing medication to children, then food, and since has grown to create sustainable programs that alleviate extreme poverty, which in turn provides sustainable livelihoods for women and children, helping to end the cycle and the spread of HIV/AIDS. When we are able to give people a hand up, and dignity in being able to provide for themselves, the community becomes stronger and can stand on its own.

How can you get involved?

You can sign up to host a small communion gathering and invite a small gathering of people over to your home. It can be for wine, cheese, or order pizza! Any act or instance of sharing counts. We suggest an amount of $30 donation per person as an example of what someone would spend on a night out. You provide the food, AFCA will provide information on the work that we do in a video, as well as a handout with more information that you can offer your guests.

Once you’re ready to host, AFCA provides a fundraiser landing page for your communion gathering so that you can see and measure your impact! Once you’ve gathered, your guests have donated and it’s been reported to AFCA, AFCA will report back to you, the impact of your intimate gathering and how you were able to share with those in need.