Portland Area Global AIDS Coalition
Featured organizations of months past

 

Mission Statement:
Ancient Ways preserves indigenous people’s ancient life-giving traditions through collaborative and sustainable practices, including health and well-being services, academic, arts, and public health education, and building huts, stoves, toilets, and wells. Ancient Ways currently works in the US, Peru, and Zimbabwe.

 

 

Ancient Ways envisions a future where people celebrate ancient knowledge and cultures, and uplift each other through mutual learning, respect and empowerment.

WE VALUE

• Compassionate Service - Local and international communities 
• Ethical & Fiscal Responsibility - Conscientious programs and services
• Uplifting the Child - Nurtured, protected, and encouraged
• Innovative Leadership - Creative, intuitive, resilient, culturally sensitive
• Preserving Traditional Ways - Respecting life-giving traditions and knowledge
• Mutual Learning - Reciprocal learning and integration of knowledge into practice
• Empowerment – Co-created opportunities to create a preferred future
• Sustainability - Ecologically sound and self-sustaining practices

Ancient Ways provides services locally, in Peru, and Zimbabwe.  Our current focus stateside is a Zimbabwean music program offering weekly classes, serving the mid-Willamette Valley since 1993.  In a Zimbabwean partnership we have been collaborating to provide rural services since 2000 in Mhondoro, and since 2005 in Dewedzo to over 2,500 people. Through grass-roots donations we: 1) offer basic health care opportunities and well being education including HIV/AIDS and public health, 2) sponsor children to attend our own preschool, supporting their education through university level, 3) assist with facilities improvements (huts, toilets, wells, stoves), and 4) promote sustainable practices for longevity.

Contact information:
JAIAEN BECK
Phone: 541-258-8710
Cell: 541-570-9059
Email:  budiriro@yahoo.com

Upcoming events:
Performances can be found on www.ancient-ways.org on the left index under Ancient Ways Performances.  We will be at Zimfest on the OSU Campus in Corvallis August 20-22 where we will have an opportunity to sell the exquisite hand-made crafts from the villages we serve, including sculpture (also found online), textiles, children’s toys and an incredible CD of Zimbabwean Music called Mwoyochena kuZimbabwe, the tracks of which were donated by some of the best Zimbabwean music lovers from the US, UK and Zimbabwe.

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Vision Statement
Our House inspires people with HIV/AIDS to live well.

Mission Statement
Our House provides integrated health and housing services to people with HIV/AIDS.
Guided by compassion, collaboration and respect, we provide:

• 24 hour specialized care
• Adult foster care
• Independent housing with support service

The Our House team works with people living with advanced HIV/AIDS.  We tailor services for each individual that define what “living well” means to them.  Services are provided through the following programs and facilities:

Our House

• Residential Care - Capacity: 14
• 24 Hour Skilled Nursing Services
• On site Social Work and Occupational Therapy services

 

Swan House

• Adult Foster Home - Resident capacity: 5
• Weekly visits by health care consultant
• Regular Social Work & Occupational Therapy services

Neighborhood Housing & Care Program (NHCP)

• Assistance with securing and maintaining permanent housing
• Regular in-home visits by clinical staff
• Access to community services

Esther’s Pantry
Provides supplemental food for over 200 clients each month.

Tod’s Corner
Provides clothing, household goods, cleaning supplies, personal care items & pet food and other services as requested.

Contact Information:
For Volunteer Information contact Kathryn Siebert or Nathan Buck at 503-234-0175.
To make a donation contact Sally Bixby or Allen Brady at 503-234-0175.
To donate food for Esther’s Pantry visit our website for drop off sites and more information: www.ourhouseofportland.org.

 

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THEMBANATHI

Mission Statement: 
To support local community-based programs providing care and assistance to vulnerable children in HIV/AIDS-affected areas of South Africa. 

General Information:
Thembanathi, a grassroots fundraising organization, was started in 2003 by a young Oregonian, Lindsey Reynolds, and a fellow undergraduate after a research trip they took together to South Africa.  Thembanathi is currently working with Holy Cross Hospice, an organization in rural KwaZulu-Natal, the most impacted province in a country with the highest number of HIV infections in the world.  Holy Cross runs a hospice and clinic for both young and adult AIDS patients and works to support approximately 2,500 vulnerable children in the area through services such as food parcels, housing, support for schooling, home-based care, feeding centers and day care centers.  Thembanathi also works to provide economic opportunities for South African women by supporting several local income generation projects in KwaZulu-Natal. Thembanathi buys all products at fair market prices and sends 100% of the proceeds back to South Africa.  Thembanathi means “hope with us” in isiZulu. 

How you can get involved:
In addition to direct donations, Thembanathi is seeking opportunities to sell South African jewelry and crafts at events, churches, homes, or work places. 

For more information, visit wwww.thembanathi.org
or contact Helen Towle htowle@comcast.net; (541) 345-6144.

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Mission Statement:
To provide health education and give essential medical care that alleviates suffering, saves lives, and inspires hope.

Amazon Promise is a US-based NGO that offers free integral health care and health training to remote populations living in the Upper Amazon Basin of Peru (see map). Our Peruvian operations are headquartered in the jungle city of Iquitos. Since 1993, we have conducted routine, volunteer-based medical outreach, and trained health care workers in 32 remote jungle villages. We also provide medical services and education to residents of Iquitos and neighboring Belén.
           
The city of Iquitos now ranks second in HIV incidence in Peru, while HIV/AIDS has been steadily progressing into the region’s  jungle settlements.
           
¡Soy Capaz! is Amazon Promise's HIV-prevention, education, and patient care program developed to stop the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in the jungle regions of Peru by empowering each and every person to actively take charge of his/her life and share the responsibility for the health of the whole community. Our program's multifaceted form is based on the specifics of the communities we serve, be it the indigenous Quechua, Achuar and Candoshi, or the mixed Mestizo populations. We reach places where no one else goes, and work with underserved Peruvian people who face the risk of HIV infection.  

Public forums on HIV-prevention, free condom distribution (30 000 yearly), school workshops, health promoter and midwife training, informed testing and counseling are some of our main activities. Our teaching materials and DVDs are used in schools and for HIV-promoter training. We also help take care of HIV patients who live in the jungle.

Please see our blog for concrete current activities, patient stories and photographs:
http://somethingsstirring.blogspot.com

Contact Information:
Please, visit our website at:  www.amazonpromise.org
Address: PO Box 1304, Newburyport, MA 01950, USA

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Friends of PATH, Portland Metro Chapter

Bolivia: Mike Wang/PATH
Burkino Faso: Monique Berlier/PATH
Birthweigh: Jessica Fleming/PATH

 

Mission Statement:

Our mission is to support and advance the work of PATH, an international nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health.
Description of PATH and Friends of PATH: By collaborating with diverse public- and private-sector partners, PATH helps provide appropriate health technologies and vital strategies that change the way people think and act. PATH’s work improves global health and well-being by:

• Advancing technologies.
• Strengthening systems.
• Encouraging healthy behaviors.

PATH meets the complex health needs of an expanding world with this multi-pronged approach that moves solutions from innovation to impact: supporting new ideas through inception, development, and testing; paving the way for introduction in low-resource countries; and working with governments and communities to integrate and expand the most successful ideas.

Friends of PATH advocates locally to raise awareness and funds for PATH’s global programs. Our organization holds friendraising and fundraising events in the Portland Metro Area, including educational panels, exhibits, multimedia receptions, and speaker dinners to promote local involvement in PATH’s activities.

Ways to Get Involved with Friends of PATH:

 

Help us table at local conferences and events throughout the year, come to our meetings, join us for World AIDS Day events by volunteering to staff a Friends of PATH table, hold a friendraiser or fundraiser event at your home, participate in our Portland Metro Thank-a-Thon on November 9 this year. Contact Judy Rea at diamorea@ix.netcom.com or Kathleen Maloney-Dunn at kmdnow@gmail.com.

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Columbia Willamette Women of Vision
(World Vision)

Mission Statement  

Women of Vision is a volunteer ministry of World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. General Information Women of Vision unites Christian women called to invest their time, intellect, compassion, creativity and finances so impoverished women and children might find hope and experience a tangible expression of God’s love. We are women of diverse ages, backgrounds, and circumstances – united in Christ to serve and walk alongside those in need so that, together, we can experience life in all its fullness. Recognizing the enormous needs in our world, we seek to educate and motivate women in our communities to become women of action in helping to create brighter and healthier future for suffering women and children.

The World Vision Partnership has six core values that are central to its identity and aspirations:

• We are Christian
  
• We are committed to the poor
  
• We value people
  
• We are stewards
  
• We are partners
  
• We are responsive

We are committed to serving the poor in three ways:

• By educating ourselves and others about the causes and issues of poverty
• By supporting international World Vision projects in four countries;

The Trauma Recovery Center for girls rescued from sexual slavery and
The Street Children Transformation project – both in Phnom Penh, Cambodia;
A microenterprise development project in Honduras
A Children of the Tunnels project in Mongolia
An HIV/AIDS prevention project in Mozambique

• By volunteering in our own community to help impoverished children and families.

We currently support the work of the Children’s Relief Nursery in North Portland.

 

Contact Information          

For more information or to become a Women of Vision partner, visit our website at www.cwwov.org or contact April Veit, Chapter Chair aprilveit@comcast.net 503-805-2768 

Upcoming event

October 3, 2009; 9:00 – 11:30 AM at Sunset Presbyterian Church on NW Cornell Rd.

CWWOV Fall Kickoff Brunch with Angela Mason, award winning speaker and World Vision Special Advocate for Women and Children. Check our website for more information; no charge or tickets required

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Makindu Children's Program

 

Makindu Children’s Program (MCP) is a charitable 501(c)3 non-profit organization headquartered in Eugene, Oregon that operates a day resource facility called Makindu Children’s Centre (MCC) in a rural region of eastern Kenya.  The Centre provides nutritional, medical and emotional support, access to basic education, and opportunities for vocational training for over 444 destitute AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children. The children live in guardian homes in the community, and can come to the Centre daily for food, recreation, bathing, and laundering facilities, emotional support, and crisis intervention.

 

Contact Information

Cindy Ingram
Stateside Executive Coordinator, Makindu Children’s Program
NEW CELL #: 541-515-8939
PO Box 51556 Eugene, Oregon 97405
makindu@peak.org
www.makindu.org

Upcoming Event

Makindu Children’s Program is thrilled to announce its NEW Sponsorship Program!

MCP has made a difference in the lives of over 400 children in Kenya. Our programs have proven to be successful in providing AIDS-affected children with loving stability and consistency.  We invite you now to get to know these special children personally though our new sponsorship program.

Sponsored children receiving services at Makindu Children’s Center are orphans and other vulnerable children.  MCC provides direct aid to children in the form of health care, payment of school fees and associated costs, nutrition, social services, HIV education, medical treatment and medication.  In addition, children live with guardian families who care for the children and assist with the provision of their basic needs.   Monitoring as well as advocacy is also provided. Please join our community of support. They need your help!

Sponsors have various options related to the selection of the age and gender of the child whom they want to sponsor. In addition, a single child or sibling group may be selected.  Sponsorship most frequently involves monthly contribution, however, it can be arranged on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. A child may have more than one sponsor due to her/his special needs  such as HIV, mental/educational delay, physical disability, or a chronic medical condition . You will receive updates on your child/children’s status three times a year.  A recent photo will also be included in the correspondence.  Check or money orders are accepted. Sponsors can also set up automatic withdrawals from their bank accounts or automatic payments from their credit/debit cards. Monthly support of the child will continue until the sponsor notifies the program manager that he/she wishes to discontinue support.

For the cost of one dinner out per month, you can change the life of a child who is in need. Sponsorships are $35 per month per child, or $50 per month for a sibling group or child with special needs.

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LylesMyles – Vancouver’s AIDS Walk and Urban Adventure Race

Vision:
A World Without AIDS

Mission:
To Raise Awareness of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic and Inspire
People to take Action

Action:
A Fun Walk/Run in a festive environment that includes education/awareness and Fundraising for Global and Local actions.

General Information:

Lyles Myles serves the Vancouver, WA area by offering an opportunity to participate in an event that addresses the world wide HIV/AIDS pandemic and raises money to help out locally (Martha’s Pantry, which provides assistance to HIV/AIDS affected people in Clark County, WA) and globally (through Global Partners and a project that provides pregnant cows to HIV/AIDS affected women in Kenya).

How to get involved/contact information:    
LylesMyles needs volunteers to help make the event happen and of course participants to take part and donate money.   Contact Lyle Smith at 360-573-1549 or dsslbs@aol.com or through the website www.lylesmyles.com             
                                                                     
Upcoming event:
In 2009, Lyles Myles takes place on October 10th starting with registration at 8:30 AM.  The site is Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver, WA.  6th Street and Columbia.

 

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Mission Statement:
Africa Bridge is dedicated to listening to Tanzanian children and empowering their communities to protect, support and care for orphaned and vulnerable children through an integrated sustainable development program. 

Vision:
In every village where Africa Bridge is present, children will have shelter, nourishment, a loving family, healthcare, an education, and income opportunities for their families.

Core Values:
While Africa Bridge acknowledges the severe plight of children in the villages where we work, we are also inspired by and share their joy, laughter and passion for life.  This belief is integral to our core values.
 

• Compassionate Listening:  We listen and participate in the lives of children and their families in order to understand their needs.  We communicate with humility and compassion and listen and seek continuous feedback from children, families, partners, donors, volunteers and staff.
• Community Awareness & Empowerment:  We work to make communities aware of the rights of a child and the role and responsibilities of the community in the care of the most vulnerable children. We support projects and encourage and empower families who care for orphans and vulnerable children.
• Integrity & Commitment:  We operate with honesty, quality know-how and high ethical standards. We keep our promises and commitments and expect the same of our partners. We strive to create self-sustainability and avoid actions that would lead to dependency.
• Progressive Learning:  We set aside our personal values, opinions and prejudices in order to gain understanding. We acknowledge the potential of others, strive towards progress, and learn from mistakes. We accept and understand our weaknesses while acknowledging the gifts of others.
• Mutual Respect:  We strive to respect one another, our backgrounds, and cultures. We avoid assuming that we know what is best for others.

Upcoming events:

• Tuesdays For Tanzania – Dine at restaurant or pub and the owner donates a portion of the proceeds to Africa Bridge.  The 2nd Tuesday of each month. 

• First Thursday at 10,000 Villages to support Africa Bridge (914 NW Everett) – June 4

• Africa Bridge Event – Mark your calendars for Africa Bridge’s first annual event on August 29

Contact Information:
Alexia Halen – Development Coordinator
alexiahalen@gmail.com – 503-699-6162

Please see www.africabridge.org for more details.

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Hands to Hearts International

Hands to Hearts International (HHI)

Mission Statement:
HHI is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of orphaned and vulnerable children and economically disadvantaged women around the globe.

General Information:
HHI's simple and cost-effective program provides tools and resources for organizations and caregivers to improve the early development of children surviving in orphanages, refugee camps, and severely impoverished or conflict-ridden communities. Through HHI's support and training, caregivers improve their ability to nurture a child's language, social, cognitive and physical skills. Most importantly, HHI's specialized training program enhances the attachment and bonding of infants to caregivers, which establishes the base for all future relationships.
           
Reports from orphanages that receive HHI trainings have been as dramatic as “no babies have died since the training.” Additional reports from orphanages and village mothers demonstrate that simple changes in daily care-giving practices improve child health, increase weight gain and accelerate language development. The caregivers regularly report increased confidence and skills, improved nutrition and hygiene practices and more quality time spent interacting and nurturing the children.

Between February 2006 and February 2009, HHI has led 159 trainings for 2,264 women, bettering the health and development of 18,898 babies and children.  HHI currently works exclusively in India, but has offered training and resources to Russia and Kenya.

Contact Information:
For more information, please visit our website at www.handstohearts.org, or contact Laura Peterson at laura@handstohearts.org.

Additional message:
HHl’s “Baby Massage ~ Nurturing & Bonding Through Touch” DVD is now available!  This beautiful, educational and heartwarming DVD was filmed and produced by the Oscar Nominated Vermilion Films. This video includes simple, easy to follow baby massage instruction to soothe and bond with your new baby. With all proceeds benefitting HHI’s programs for women and children in developing countries, it is a resource and a gift with a global impact! 

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The Imani Project

The Imani Project Mission Statement 
To enable and empower rural Kenyan villagers to become teachers, caregivers and HIV/AIDS activists in their communities:  to significantly reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS transmission, as well as providing support services for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, and villagers living with HIV/AIDS.   Guidance, leadership and funding will be provided by the American Imani Project.

General Information
The Imani Project is a vision of hope, faith, and inspiration;  a demonstration of
what a small group of dedicated people across the world can accomplish to mobilize against HIV/AIDS.  Imani is translated “faith” in Kiswahili, but exemplifies the faith and connection of African Villagers.  The Imani Project is a partnership between Americans and Africans based on cultural understanding and mutual respect.  The Imani Project is a registered 501C3 in the U.S. and an NGO registered with the Department of Social Services in Kenya.  We work in the coastal villages of Kenya bordering the Indian Ocean.  Areas of focus are:

1. Teaching HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention in the villages, trade centers, and schools.
2. Development of a Community Based System of Home Care for villagers living with HIV/AIDS including HIV+ Support Groups, Nutrition training and other support services.
3. Subsidized placement of children orphaned by AIDS in fostering families in their communities.   including support services for fostering families.
4. Provision of needed of medical supplies and medical care for children and families.
5. Development of a Sister School Program with African Village Schools. (Four African Primary Schools are partnered with schools in Lake Oswego, Oregon and Belfast, Northern Ireland).

Contact Information: 
For Volunteer opportunities and/or interest in traveling to Kenya as an Imani Project Volunteer contact Marlene  Anderson at 503 349-2596 or Marlenelcsw@comcast.net.

 

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Homowo Mission Statement
Homowo offers programming that fosters cultural exchange and connection through the celebration of authentic African rhythms and traditions by bringing drumming, music, art and dance to the stage, schools and communities of the world. 

General Information
Based in Portland, Oregon and founded in 1986, Homowo is the Pacific Northwest region’s first arts organization fostering the creation, performance, preservation and teaching of African arts and cultures.  We serve as a community resource for African arts and host Obo Addy’s Okropong – Traditional Music & Dance of Ghana.  Under the artistic leadership of Ghanaian musician, teacher and composer Obo Addy, the work of Homowo has been honored with awards and fellowships, including the Master Fellowship from the Oregon Arts Commission & the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Governor’s Award for the Arts.  Obo Addy has also been recognized as a “national treasure” having received the National Heritage Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1996.  This is the highest honor given to a traditional artist in the United States, and Obo Addy is the first African to receive this award.

Homowo’s educational and outreach programs include: in-school, after-school and summer programs in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington that now reach more than 32,000 young people per year.  Our educational programs include drumming and dance workshops, school performances, lecture/demonstrations and intensive residencies with music and dance students at high schools and colleges in the region and around the country.  Throughout the years, we have served at-risk youth in Portland at the elementary, middle and high school levels through, Open Meadow Alternative School, George Middle School,Portsmouth School and many social service agencies..  Approximately 18,000 people, aged 3 to 99 from Oregon and Washington, attend our regional concerts and performances each year.  We are currently beginning to plan for a library/resource center in Ghana.

Contact information
Susan Addy at 503/288-3025
susan@homowo.org

Upcoming event
On March 13, 2009, Homowo will be presenting:  “Africa Speaks-America Answers”, a concert bringing together African rhythms with American Jazz.  Obo Addy and Thara Memory are collaborating to write new compositions to premiere at the 8pm show which will be held at the Kaul Auditorium at Reed College.  Tickets are available at pdstix.net

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Making Human Connections through Art

Martha Kamunda painting

General Information:
Zimbabwe Artists Project (“ZAP”) celebrates the artistry and accomplishments of women from rural Weya in eastern Zimbabwe. Through education, sale of their art in the United States, and special projects, ZAP helps these women become economically self-sufficient. Sales of their art helps women afford food, clothing, school fees, medicine, transport, seeds and fertilizer.

In the United States, we help our communities to see common humanity across boundaries of culture and privilege.  We encourage our friends and customers to recognize ways in which we can use our own privilege to enhance the dignity and self-respect of others, including the artists of Weya.

Zimbabwe Artists Project’s Goals:
ZAP has two goals.  First, we help the artists use their creativity to support themselves and their families.  We assist the artists in getting art supplies, and we purchase art directly from them, paying more than twice as much as any other buyer.  We provide health care for all artists, and we do special projects with artists to meet special needs.

Our second goal is to help our friends and customers in the United States to see common humanity across boundaries of race and culture and privilege.  We encourage them to recognize how we can use our own privilege to enhance the dignity and self-respect of others, including the artists of Weya.

Albertina Nyamagoronga with her appliqué “Loice’s Children”

Zimbabwe Artists Project – Special Projects:
Our engagement with the artists has led us further into their communities.  With donations from friends of ZAP and through the sale of our Guinea Hen Lady book and Mazhanje Pickers jigsaw puzzles, we provide school fees and uniforms for 80 community children who have lost their parents to AIDS, and we provide textbooks for their schools.  We have done a clean water project in Weya, assisting the communities to rebuild clean water wells and drill new ones.  In addition to providing schooling for AIDS orphans, ZAP provides testing, counseling, and medicine for all artists who have tested HIV positive.

Zimbabwe Artists Project has a permanent gallery space in the Olympic Mills Commerce Center in inner southeast Portland.  Visit us during normal office hours (call ahead to make sure we are around).

Contact Information for Zimbabwe Artists Project:
Zimbabwe Artists Project
107 SE Washington Street, Suite 162
Portland, OR 97214
www.zimbabweartistsproject.org
phone: (503)232-7057

Dick Adams, executive director
director@zimbabweartistsproject.org

Heather MacKenzie, volunteer & outreach coordinator
coordinator@zimbabweartistsproject.org

Please check for future events on our website:
www.zimbabweartistsproject.org/zimbabwe-art-exhibits-events

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