Keep a Child Alive

Bobbi Bear & Blue Roof Partner to Increase Access to HIV/AIDS Testing & Treatment

With 5.6 million people living with HIV, South Africa has the highest HIV prevalence in the world. In the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, where the Blue Roof Wellness Centre and Operation Bobbi Bear work, nearly 40% of the population is HIV-infected. The numbers are daunting, and the South African government continues to amplify its efforts to increase access to HIV testing and AIDS treatment services across the country. Keep a Child Alive’s Blue Roof Wellness Centre has become an integral part of the South African government’s HIV/AIDS efforts, and is impacting the lives of thousands in urgent need of its services.

Currently, the Blue Roof provides free anti-retroviral treatment to more than 1,600 patients, and free comprehensive care including HIV counseling and testing, TB testing, adherence classes, psychosocial support, community outreach and nutrition. With the visionary support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, the Blue Roof continues to expand its HIV Counseling & Testing program this year beyond the clinic’s doors by conducting Community Outreach Testing Days in the surrounding area.

The Blue Roof is organizing its Community Outreach Testing Days in partnership with Operation Bobbi Bear, located in Amanzimtoti, 20 kilometers away from the clinic. Bobbi Bear rescues child victims of sexual abuse and works with the Blue Roof to help minimize their risk of HIV-infection. The partnership works both ways. Bobbi Bear frequently brings women and children to the Blue Roof for testing and treatment, and if the Blue Roof encounters a victim of rape or abuse, the clinic reaches out to Bobbi Bear for its expertise. Linked by Keep a Child Alive’s support, the Blue Roof and Bobbi Bear complement the work of one another in effectively addressing multiple aspects of the AIDS crisis in South Africa.

Bobbi Bear organizes two “Tree” clinics in rural communities every week as a source of empowerment for vulnerable women. At these clinics – titled “Tree” for the spiritual Tree around which the original group met – women and their children come together for social assistance from Bobbi Bear and support from one another. Bobbi Bear has always used the gathering as an opportunity to educate these women about getting tested and treated for HIV, and refer many to the Blue Roof. Now, the Blue Roof is facilitating testing and counseling services at the Tree clinics twice a month, and providing transport for those who test positive so they can follow up at the Blue Roof for treatment.

In addition to these Community Outreach Testing Days at the Bobbi Bear “Tree” clinics, the Blue Roof is working with Bobbi Bear to facilitate Awareness Days at local high schools in the South of Durban. While HIV and sex education is included as part of the Life Orientation classes that students take in high school in South Africa, the Blue Roof and Bobbi Bear teams found that many students had lingering questions and were eager to learn more about HIV/AIDS. The Blue Roof’s Community Outreach workers continue to play a valuable role at these Awareness Days by educating students particularly about HIV treatment and adherence, and making them aware of the testing and treatment services available at the Blue Roof.

The Blue Roof Wellness Centre and Operation Bobbi Bear have become powerful symbols of hope and all that is possible to the communities they serve. Keep a Child Alive is proud to support their combined efforts to increase access to HIV testing and treatment services. Together, we are continuing to make an importance difference in communities in most urgent need of quality HIV/AIDS care in South Africa.

Meet the Staff - Felicia Eve

Meet Felicia (Not to be confused with Alicia)

What did you do prior to working at Keep a Child Alive?
Immediately prior to KCA I was the PTA President at my children’s school for two years. Before that I owned my own podiatry practice in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area for six years. I have always been involved in the medical field and I think that is what initially attracted me to the work of KCA.

How did you first get involved with Keep a Child Alive?
My children and Elizabeth’s (our VP) children have gone to school together for the past seven years so we spent a lot of time working together in non profit activities. Through Elizabeth, I had been involved with KCA through various fundraising events and attended the Black Ball a few times. When I was ready to start a new chapter of my life, KCA was a great fit. I had seen the wonderful work they had been doing and I was ready to get involved too.

What inspires you most about the work of Keep a Child Alive?
As a mother of three, I feel for parents who want to do more for their children and can’t. My heart breaks for the children with no parents. I refused to buy into the idea that there is nothing you can do and KCA proves that we all have a role. With as little as a $1 per day I have seen first hand what a difference a little money and a lot of love can make. These children and families want to know someone cares and KCA does. We go to the heart of the problem and try to turn it around.

What does a day look like in the life of Felicia?
It feels like I’ve put in a full days work before 8am, but I assume you mean at KCA, not with my three kids! Primarily, I work with our donors to ensure that their contributions and request are handled properly. I take phone calls with them and answer emails from them each day. I also work with our Special Events staff to cultivate new donors and sponsors, and with our Programs staff to develop compelling stories to share with our members and donors to share in the newsletters.

What is your favorite part of the job?
It is really encouraging to see the commitment of our donors. It is so inspiring! They believe in what we do and want to make a difference in any way they can. Working with my my co-workers is also exciting, as everyone on our staff wears many hats. On any given day we could be fulfilling KCA store purchases and preparing for a documentary screening the next. It really is an all-hands-on-deck kind of place!

What do you do outside of Keep a Child Alive?
Soccer mom! My picture is probably on the Wiki site. Girl Scouts, Lego Robotics, pee-wee baseball. With three kids I stay pretty busy. I am also knit-a-holic and absolutely love yarn. Fortunately, I can watch the kids play and knit simultaneously.

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Loyal. Decisive. Roll-with-the-punches-type (is that one word?)

KCA Hosts Creative Industry Screening of New Documentary

Last Thursday, Keep a Child Alive hosted a private screening of our latest documentary “Keep a Child Alive with Alicia Keys” at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in SoHo, NY .

It was an intimate gathering of distinguished guests who represented a variety of creative companies in New York. The KCA team was thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce our work to a new audience, and show our appreciation of the amazing people who donated their time and talent to the creation of the film.

Directed by Earle Sebastian, “Keep a Child Alive with Alicia Keys” tells the story of five Americans who won the chance to travel to South Africa with their favorite superstar, Alicia Keys as she visited Keep a Child Alive funded sites in Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa. The film premiered on Showtime on World AIDS Day, December 1st, 2011, and continues to be aired on Showtime today. For a complete list of future airings on Showtime, click here.

Special thanks to:
COVERGIRL | Cutting Room Films | Human | Light of Day | Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits | The Tribeca Grand Hotel

Alicia Keys: In Women’s Words at the UN

Watch Alicia’s Speech at 1:18:00

Watch the video on the UN Women site here: http://www.unwomen.org/calendar-of-events/?event_id=17#webcast

The women of the world know what to do. And they do it. They would do more if they had equal rights and weren’t discriminated against. That is what we need to fix more than anything in our world. With my organization, Keep a Child Alive, we put the trust directly in the people on the ground, who are extremely capable to run these programs but lack the funding, medicines and health care professionals. If we show to the next generation of men and women affected by the AIDS pandemic that we care by providing the necessary resources of universal treatment that doesn’t end, doctors & nurses, food programs, micro-loan opportunities - this will empower them to live their dreams. And stop the pandemic in its tracks.

We believe that, with AIDS treatment, anything is possible. We watch people become reborn with treatment. And I’ve seen it myself! At our clinic in Uganda, ALIVE Medical Services, a father came in one day, his name is Bashir, unable to walk and on his death bed. He had 7 children at home. Within one month of ARV therapy and food parcels from our ALIVE clinic - Bashir looked like a new man and over the past year, his health has restored to a level where he is actually a father again. With the help of a small loan from us, he opened a boda-boda spare parts shop not far from the main road to Jinja. With funds from the shop, he is now able to send all 7 of his school-aged children to school. That is empowerment. He can care for his family and contribute to his community because he is healthy. Without effective treatment his 7 girl children would have lost their father and their outcome would have been painful at best.

Even in Rwanda, at our Centreville clinic in Kigali - women receive AIDS treatment and surrounding care but they have started the Ineza Cooperative as a source of personal empowerment and economic development. Through education programs in design, sewing, management, computer skills and marketing, these patients learn valuable skills to help support themselves. In addition, English classes are taught to enable the women to better communicate with customers and tourists that come to Ineza to purchase goods. Every product that the Ineza women create is one-of-a-kind, and represents the strength and renewal of female survivors of the 1994 genocide. That is empowerment. They find renewed courage and support to heal their once fragmented lives.

I also think we should empower the care-takers themselves to continue the incredible life-changing work they have fearlessly decided to devote their lives to. My dear Mum Carol Dyanti, who founded and runs Ikageng Itireleng in Johannesburg holds a dear place in my heart. She is a mother to over 1500 children living in child-headed households and provides the basic needs such as food, clothing, transportation, water, electricity, school fees, healthcare and transport. KCA empowers Mum Carol with funding to be able to provide these needs to relieve some of the pressure and despair faced by these young children, who are forced to take on adult roles. This is empowerment, enabling Mum Carol to continue her work to help raise these children all affected by AIDS.

Empowering women and men affected by the AIDS pandemic will come from OUR investment in them. We need to provide the treatment for life, we need to provide it to everyone, and give them opportunity. We need to believe in them and not give up.

In my capacity as Co Founder and Global Ambassador of Keep a Child Alive I call on all Heads of State, Governments and Leaders in the Global North and the Global South to decide:

Will we end AIDS? Will we end the immense pain and suffering that has been wrought upon millions of people in Africa and beyond by saving millions of lives or not? This discussion has been going on for years but now we have very real evidence that we can stop the disease. If we decide yes we can, we must do everything in our power to keep our promises with a very bold plan for universal access. We must commit to $22 billion by 2015 to prevent 12 million infections and save 7 million beautiful lives. 15 million on AIDS treatment by 2015!!! We CAN create the future!!!!

Now that we know that treatment can stop the disease in its tracks we would be literally getting away with murder if we don’t. So I call on the powers that be to:

• Treat to prevent the spread of HIV toward an AIDS free generation.
• Treat to prevent millions more children being orphaned.
• Treat to prevent women and girls from having HIV+ babies.
• And finally treat to prevent children dying of AIDS. This must be our moral imperative.

I note that in the global plan being proposed here today that there are no real bold plans to treat and care for children already infected. Treat children or we will be faced with many problems from kids who were not nurtured and not loved as they grow. Only 18% of children in need are getting treatment. As Graca Michel says “Every Child Counts”. Even if we decide after this UN meeting that we are going for VICTORY, we will still have to care for 16 million plus AIDS orphans. And that must be our focus too.

I call for us to empower people on the ground to win the battle. Empower people on the ground to win. That is the whole ethos at KCA.

I call for us to put women in charge of the issues that affect them. We are agents of change to a more compassionate world.

I call for us to educate men that women’s bodies belong to them. Rape is not allowed, not even if you are married to your rapist.

I call for full gender equality.

I call for a new world that respects the rights of all people including sex workers.

I call for the end of Homophobia. For Gods sake, get over it. People are gay. I call for their human rights.

I call for an end to ideals that put profits and patents ahead of people.

I call for a plan to ensure that condoms are available everywhere. Male and female. I call for every effort possible to ensure microbicides are rolled out to protect women.

I call for an end to TB. By rolling out ARVs and screening for TB we can cut TB infections in half.

I call for progressive language in the final declaration that comes out of the High Level meeting that caters to the world as it is today not medieval concepts we are far beyond. As advances in Science and Technology soar in our world so must advances in Human Rights.

We are all a mothers child. Treat her with respect.

I know we can send men to the moon so I know we can do this. I know we can bail out Wall St in a week so I know we can do this. I know we can stop this disease in its tracks. WE CAN CREATE THE FUTURE!!!

Thank you.

Welcome Nichole Rhodes to our Board of Directors.

As Founder and Manager of The Rhodes Global Group, Nichole has created a dynamic international consultancy focused on understanding, building and promoting competitive identities for nations, multinational companies and NGO’s. Her consulting firm works closely with its clientele to develop strategic business alliances and partnerships, develop and implement strategies for revenue growth and create new business opportunities and competitive identities.

In February 2011, the Rhodes Group was retained by BYD Co. Ltd, in Shenzhen China to lead global business development initiatives in the United States and India.

In December of 2010, Nichole was named the International Spokesperson for Bali Green.  Leading the Indonesian Government’s initiative at the UNEP in Bangkok, Thailand, she successfully unified and initiated efforts to make Bali the first green province in Indonesia.  Subsequently, her efforts for Bali Green have included leading strategy for the Norway-Indonesia REDD partnership and facilitating a public private partnership agreement with multinational BYD Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China.

In early 2010, Nichole was contacted by President Shimon Peres to serve as advisory on the Israel - South Korea science and technology driven futures for meetings with President Lee in Seoul, June 2010. 

Nichole was recognized at the World Economic Forum as a supporter and ambassador of South African Spirit and Investment by the International Marketing Council of South Africa.

Prior to forming Rhodes Global Group, Nichole was recruited to the position of Vice President of International Marketing & New Business Development for Global Leadership Team. There, she was charged with managing international marketing, strategic communications and business development—as well as key engagements—and generated more than $4 million in new revenue in less than 2 years.

In 2006, Nichole was retained by General Motors as a Consultant specializing in International Marketing. In that role, she developed marketing and communications strategies globally for GM Advanced/Green Technologies partnerships with the Pentagon, the Army, the Marines, the EPA, the Department of Agriculture and the US Senate. Another of her roles was to create and brand broadcast marketing for Tiger Woods and Buick, including scripts and productions for broadcast in the United States and internationally.

Early in her career, Nichole was a Television News Producer and Journalist with the NBC affiliate in Detroit, where she worked as the Senior Political Producer to former White House Correspondent Emery King.  She also oversaw market promotions of shows including “The Apprentice” and “Friends.”

In 2012, Nichole will graduate from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts with a Global Master of Arts degree, International Law & Diplomacy.

Remembering Nkosi Johnson

June 1, 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Nkosi Johnson, a young activist and hero in the AIDS movement.

Born HIV positive, Nkosi first made international headlines when he was 8 years old and his foster mother, Gail Johnson, tried to enroll him at a local school.  With no policies in place around the admission of HIV+ children into schools at that time, a battle ensued that brought attention to the huge gaps in services and protections for children living with HIV.  Because of Nkosi, a government policy was enacted two years later, giving all HIV-infected children the right to education in South Africa.

Invited to speak at schools about his status and the policy, Nkosi took a very active role in fighting for acceptance and non-discrimination with his unbending stance on ARV medication for HIV+ pregnant women.  He never wanted another child to end up infected and could not understand why, when there was treatment available, there was a delay in getting the medicine to the people in dire need.  The question of expense was way beyond his comprehension.

In 1997, Nkosi’s birth mother died of AIDS.  Devastated by the fact that his “mommy never said goodbye,” Nkosi asked the question, “Does everyone who has AIDS die?”  Nkosi wanted to prevent other children from suffering the pain he had endured. He wanted to create a place where mothers with HIV/AIDS and their children could live and be cared for without discrimination or prejudice.  In April 1999, the first Nkosi’s Haven opened its doors.

Two years later, Nkosi died.  He never had the chance to see the 95 children at Nkosi’s Haven go to school, or the 35 mothers with HIV all living with their children at Nkosi’s Haven today.

Nkosi Johnson will always be remembered as the boy who gave a face to AIDS in Africa, and who stole our hearts when he spoke at the 13th International AIDS Conference in July 2000.  With all eyes on him, he challenged the then government to roll out ARVs to pregnant women to prevent the virus being passed onto their unborn children, and he asked for acceptance of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Keep a Child Alive is honored to support the women and children of Nkosi’s Haven today, Founder and mother Gail Johnson, and the indomitable spirit of Nkosi Johnson, whose dream lives on through the lives they save.  Help KCA continue to support Nkosi’s Haven work.  Click below to donate now and choose Nkosi’s Haven.

Jay Sean with Keep a Child Alive in South Africa

Recently, pop R&B artist Jay Sean traveled with Keep a Child Alive to South Africa to visit two KCA-funded sites in Durban to meet the children and families we serve. Jay became involved with KCA in 2010 as he participated in our Buy Life and Digital Death campaigns and attended our 2010 Black Ball New York.

From Jay Sean himself, “I was recently blessed with the opportunity to travel to South Africa and visit two of the amazing Keep a Child Alive sites. This was such a life changing experience for me because like many of us, I’ve always been willing to write a cheque, but physically being there and seeing everything in action made me realize how much more I can and need to do!”

Jay Sean and the KCA crew visited Operation Bobbi Bear where he met the superwomen Jackie, Eureka and child safety officers who work everyday to protect children from sexual abuse and who rescue child victims of sexual abuse and rape to minimize their risk of HIV-infection at point of rescue, ensuring their health and well-being in places of safety and bringing their perpetrators to justice. To read more about Operation Bobbi Bear, click here.

Jay and his team were then welcomed by the staff at the Blue Roof Wellness Center with hugs, hugs and more hugs. It is so amazing to see the eyes of patients, children and staff when a pop star walks in just light up and their faces fill with joy and smiles. Jay sat down with 2 of our patients at the Blue Roof  to hear their stories and reactions to be HIV positive and how their lives have been changed since coming to the Blue Roof and being able to access free ARV treatment. It’s beautiful to hear the stories directly from the patients and how thankful they are to all staff of the Blue Roof and KCA.

To see a video of highlights from Jay Sean’s trip to South Africa, click here.

To Buy Life with Jay Sean and Keep a Child Alive, text ‘BUYLIFE’ to 90999 to give $10 today. $10 will buy the essential HIV/AIDS care necessary to keep a child or adult with HIV/AIDS alive for one week.

There is nothing like a Dame - especially this one. Elizabeth Taylor, AIDS Warrior dead at 79.

Elizabeth Taylor was considered one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses but to us at Keep a Child Alive, she was one of the greatest AIDS warriors. In the early 80s as the unknown virus began to spread, there was much stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS but Elizabeth Taylor was not shy of controversy and spoke out against the fear associated with the disease after her friend Rock Hudson died of it alone in Paris, a handsome man faded to a skeleton.

Galvanized Elizabeth Taylor then founded AmFar, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, and was a great supporter of my then charity, the Red Hot Organization as it steered its first benefit, Red Hot + Blue through the quagmire of ignorance, prejudice and stigma. In return and because major funds for research was so desperately needed to find drugs to prevent the unstoppable number of deaths I was able to direct $1 million dollars to AmFar as its first grant.

Elizabeth hosted an event in Los Angeles, sponsored by Entertainment Weekly to celebrate our work, which was of course full of lush diamonds and many many laughs.  She was a rollicking good time.  Natural, normal and very very funny.  I was invited to her 65th birthday party at Disneyland and rubbed shoulders with Richard Gere, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Dennis Hopper and many more great people who supported her work with AIDS.  She was indeed a voice for gay men and like Madonna you could mistake her for one via her vernacular. 

In 1991, Elizabeth Taylor founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) to raise funds and awareness for those living with HIV/AIDS with a focus on direct care and prevention education on the pandemic. She covered all underwriting costs for raising and administering funds, allowing for 100% of the public’s donations to be directly served to those living with HIV/AIDS under the Foundation’s care. Over the past 20 years, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation has raised and provided $12 million in grants to various AIDS organizations worldwide.

On March 23rd 2011, we lost this AIDS warrior woman who fought for so long in the battle against AIDS: against stigma, against fear, against discrimination and to provide love and support to all. She will be dearly missed but always remembered. 

This was one sassy Dame and I salute her. 

Leigh Blake
Co-Founder & President
Keep a Child Alive

Pop R&B Star Jay Sean Donates His Birthday

On Saturday, March 26th, Jay Sean is celebrating his birthday and this year, his wish is for his fans, friends and family to donate to Keep a Child Alive to give life to those affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. As you may remember, Jay Sean became involved with KCA in 2010 and participated in our Buy Life and Digital Death campaigns. He just recently returned from a trip to South Africa where he visited our Blue Roof Wellness Center and Operation Bobbi Bear meeting HIV-positive patients and children orphaned by AIDS.

Please help to make Jay’s birthday wish come true and give him the greatest gift of all by donating to Keep a Child Alive. To see video highlights from our trip to South Africa with Jay and read his birthday wish, click here: www.keepachildalive.org/jaysean

Introducing Keep a Child Alive’s eBay Store!

Looking for a past Keep a Child Alive t-shirt or tote bag that we no longer sell in our online store?  Check out Keep a Child Alive’s new eBay store!  We have t-shirts, tote bags, watches and more incredible items…all at a lower price from original sale!  Show your support for Keep a Child Alive by purchasing one of our great items to Buy Life for those we support affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. Also, don’t forget to browse our newest BUY LIFE items in the KCA web-store too! Look through our items today at: www.stores.ebay.com/keep-a-child-alive-store