The counseling and sports aspects of FACE AIDS are available to all Mwange residents, and the support groups are additionally open to members of the surrounding villages. Currently, the support groups have a total of almost 20 members, and over 100 refugees benefit from FACE AIDS counseling in a typical month. Additionally, 40 refugees are involved in the FACE AIDS sports program. Beyond this, FACE AIDS has touched the lives of countless Mwange residents through its progress towards the reducing the stigma of AIDS in the community. 3644 3 false The scourge of AIDS in southern Africa is well known. In Zambia in particular, young people face a 50% life-time risk of dying of AIDS. The problem is confounded by the intense stigma surrounding those with AIDS, discouraging infected individuals from speaking out and those whose status is unknown from getting tested. 2008-05-29T18:15:35-05:00 FACE AIDS began as a FORGE project in 2005 and has since then gone on to operate as its own nonprofit organization that is a valued partner of FORGE. Its presence and impact in Mwange Refugee Camp has not diminished over the years, and its current operations include managing general support groups and orphan support groups that run income-generating activities, such as farming and small businesses, for those affected by AIDS in Mwange and the surrounding villages. FACE AIDS additionally offers counseling to individuals who have questions about AIDS issues as well as a sports program that combines recreation with education to spread the word about, and reduce the stigma of, AIDS. To support individuals affected with AIDS through financial initiatives and through the spread of information about AIDS. 23 • Running seminars and sensitizations to educate the community about AIDS • Educating the community about AIDS through sports programming • Providing counseling for those affected by or concerned with AIDS • Running income-generating activities for those affected by AIDS #<Location:0xb68fba4> 3 • To increase the number of people who know their HIV/AIDS status • To raise awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention • To help HIV/AIDS-affected individuals in Mwange live more prosperous lives • To reach at least 20% of the Mwange community every year As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Mwange Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. Of the 25 million people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, those who have fled war are particularly vulnerable. Yet at the same time, the refugee populations with whom FORGE works are often amongst the first from their countries to have heard of the virus, and are strategically poised to spread life-saving information when they return home. The Mwange FACE AIDS Project takes advantage of this opportunity to spread knowledge and information about AIDS and how it can avoided. It also facilitates support groups in which individuals affected by the epidemic come together to assist each other financially and psychologically. By working to reduce its spread and impact, the FACE AIDS Project empowers refugees to take a stand against this devastating global epidemic. true Mobilizing refugees to fight against AIDS 2010-03-10T10:32:12-06:00 Since opening in July of 2006, the Laboratoire Informatique Safari has offered 9-week computer skills courses to more than 300 refugees, young and old. It has quickly become one of FORGE’s most popular projects in Mwange, with waiting lists of refugees who wish to partake in computer training. LISa also provides a facility for the community newspaper, Journal Mwange, to draft and compile each issue of its paper. 3061 5 false In this increasingly high-tech economy, computer skills have become instrumental in acquiring employment in most places in the world. The DRC, the home country of Mwange refugees, is no different. Without the Laboratoire Informatique Safari, refugees in Mwange would have no way to pick up computer skills. They would return to their communities upon repatriation unprepared to be competitive applicants in the job market. 2008-05-01T02:24:32-05:00 The Mwange Computer Training Center, also known as "Laboratoire Informatique Safari" was named by the Mwange community to mean “Computer Technology Center: Journey” in French and Swahili. It is a fully-equipped, solar-powered computer lab that serves the entire Mwange community. Because very few refugees have ever touched a computer before in their lives, the computer courses focus on basic skills such as typing, navigating a computer screen, and using Word and Excel. Some advanced classes exist for more experienced users. To provide an empowering skill that will expand the vocational and educational horizons of refugees upon their return to the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). 18 • Holding basic and intermediate computer skills classes • Holding practice hours for community members to hone their computer skills • Providing the facilities for the publication of Journal Mwange #<Location:0xb65d050> 3 • To equip refugees with valuable computer skills that will help them gain employment upon repatriation to the DRC • To train 400 new computer users each year • To offer affordable word processing and printing services to members of the Mwange community • To prepare students for potential university studies As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Mwange Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. The Mwange Computer Training Center, or Laboratoire Informatique Safari (LISa), is a fully-equipped, solar-powered computer center that offers refugees the opportunity to learn about and work with computers – something few have ever had a chance to do. Knowing that this skill will provide increased opportunity for employment in the world’s evolving economy, the classes are unfailingly full, and each of the ten Panasonic Toughbook laptops is used for as long as its battery can last in intensive training sessions. The Mwange Computer Training Center has provided computer skills to over 1000 refugees. true Leveraging the power of technology 2010-03-10T10:59:01-06:00 Journal Mwange publishes approximately one issue, in both French and Swahili, every month. Each issue produces 210 copies, which are distributed throughout the camp at no charge. The paper regularly sells out in a matter of days. Additionally, a copy of each issue is placed in the library for the entire community to access. Among the foremost beneficiaries from the paper are its staff, who receive invaluable training in writing, journalism ethics, photography, and computer skills. 1683 4 false The Mwange Refugee Camp has in the past relied on word of mouth to pass news throughout the camp, meaning that information would sometimes fail to reach those who needed it most. The word of mouth system spread much misinformation and provided no means to corroborate truths or dispel rumors. Seeking to provide a more reliable method of sharing information, Journal Mwange writers collaborate with UNHCR and other NGO partners to ensure that the community receives accurate and relevant news. In addition, the “Kids’ Page” of the paper promotes literacy by providing fun and engaging activities for Mwange’s youth. 2008-05-01T02:21:13-05:00 Journal Mwange combats the lack of access to accurate information that many refugees face by giving refugees a forum to write about the issues they find important and to share information with other members of the community. Highlighting the achievements of outstanding community members, Journal Mwange promotes unity in Mwange Camp and outlines stellar examples for others to follow. News writers for Journal Mwange interview and collaborate with UNHCR officials when drafting their articles to ensure that their publication is accurate and unbiased and to improve relations between refugees and officials in the camp. To provide a publication for the community to inform itself, express opinions, and celebrate its successes. 17 • Conducting interviews with refugees and refugee officials • Writing news, editorial, sports, and kids’ articles • Collaborating with refugee officials to ensure accuracy and positive relationships • Publishing twelve issues each year #<Location:0xb5f79f8> 3 <i>*Because of budget constraints, FORGE has temporarily scaled back the scope of many of its projects. The project descriptions and budgets seen here describe the project's typical operations, and might therefor not reflect the current situation on the ground. Once sufficient funding is secured for each project, its operations will be expanded back to those reflected in this description and budget.</i> • To increase readership by 10% by 2010 • To hold at least two meetings with community members to solicit feedback on the Journal • To attract at least 10 new clients to the library each month to read Journal Mwange As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Mwange Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. Most of the residents of Mwange Refugee Camp lack access to accurate information regarding the camp, their home country, and the outside world. Journal Mwange is designed to meet this need by giving refugees a forum to report on the issues they find important. Through articles on community role-models, Journal Mwange fosters a sense of pride and hope based on the success and ingenuity of this vibrant community. Additionally, the staff of Journal Mwange carefully and consistently fact-check their stories with the United Nations Refugee Agency and its other nonprofit partners in the hopes that their stories can counteract the rumors that sometime swirl through a camp of this size. Ultimately, Journal Mwange is not just a means of receiving information for the residents of Mwange Camp; rather, as the first newspaper that many of the younger refugees have ever read, it represents possibilities and their own potential. true Building an informed community one year 2010-03-10T10:52:47-06:00 As many as 500 refugees visit Bibliotheque Alfajiri each month, and patrons are diverse in both age and gender. One of only two publicly accessible locations in Mwange with electric lighting, Bibliotheque Alfajiri provides a place for women and those who work during the day to come read or study when it is dark. Nearly 100 people are newly oriented into the library each month. 3758 2 false Isolated from major cities and facing extreme financial constraints, Mwange's refugees have little or no access to reading materials. Local children who want to practice their literary skills outside of school and local adults eager to learn about new subjects would have extremely limited options without Bibliotheque Alfajiri. 2008-05-01T02:18:32-05:00 Mwange's library, also known as Bibliotheque Alfajiri is the only library available to residents of Mwange Refugee Camp. Its full name, “Bibliotheque Alfajiri: Source de Connaissance” comes from the French and Swahili for “Library of the first break of Dawn: Source of Knowledge” and was chosen by the community shortly following its founding. Built in 2005, this library is a peaceful haven for the Mwange community to sit on the comfortable furniture and enjoy the selection of over 2,000 books. To increase literacy and foster a culture of learning in Mwange Refugee Camp. 16 • Loaning out books to members of the Mwange community • Orienting new patrons to the library • Providing a place for lighted reading when it is dark #<Location:0xb5b9798> 3 • To maintain an average participant level of 500 visitors per month over the next year. • To increase female participation in library activities to at least 45% by 2010. • To orient at least 85 new people from diverse areas of the camp each month. • To improve literacy among Mwange’s residents. As of December 1, 2009, FORGE is no longer working in Mwange Refugee Camp. Thus, FORGE is no longer accepting funds for this project. The FORGE Mwange Library is the sole library available to the 14,000-person community of Mwange Refugee Camp. The library's full name, Bibliotheque Alfajiri: Source de Connaissance means “Library of the Break of Dawn: Source of Knowledge” and was coined by the community to show their belief in the importance of education. Built in 2005, this library is a peaceful haven for the Mwange community to enjoy the selection of over 2,000 books. The library serves over 6000 visitors each year. true Increasing literacy and fostering a culture of learning one year 2010-03-10T10:08:23-06:00