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’s. 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 for those affected by AIDS. FACE AIDS additionally offers counseling to individuals who have questions about AIDS issues and a sports program that combines recreation with education, to spread the word about, and reduce the stigma of, AIDS.
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.
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 40 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.
• 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
• To increase 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
*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.