A typical rent room in Hyena Square
Spotlight
The Staying Alive Foundation ensures that it maintains close relationships with every single one of its grantees. It's fantastic to see how well projects develop and grow in such a short space of time, with a relatively small amount of money. Listed below are two special projects, that we feel are doing amazing work...
The Eliza Youth Group - Run by Eliza Joseph in Tanzania
To say Eliza has had a tough life would be a massive understatement.
Sold by her mother, into what turned out to be domestic slavery, she was repeatedly beaten and raped – and eventually ended up in prison – framed by the very man who abused her.
After her release, Eliza had nothing to her name – no money, no friends, no family, nothing - in desperation, she turned to prostitution.
Prostitution in parts of Tanzania – specifically the sex and drugs capital, Hyena Square - would shock you. Women rent filthy concrete-walled squats where sex without a condom costs just $4 – sex with one – 27c.
Like many women, with seemingly nothing to live for, Eliza turned to drugs. Inevitably, she tested positive for HIV.
But she didn’t give up, unlike many of the other girls, Eliza managed to turn her life around – she got out.
She set up the Elizabeth Youth Group – supported by the Staying Alive Foundation - and now dedicates her life to helping other women who are living the life she once lived. The money she gets from the Foundation enables her to support women who are trying to turn their lives around. She trains young people, informing them about the risk of HIV and AIDS, holds workshops, presentations, and is there as a solid support mechanism for women. Eliza provides a much needed glimmer of hope for the women of Hyena Sqaure, Tanzania.
Eliza appears in The Diary of Kelly Rowland, the Elizabeth Youth Group was just one of many projects Kelly visited.
Repacted
Repacted recieved their second Staying Alive Foundation Award in June 2008 - and continue to wow us with their innovative thinking and bespoke awareness raising techniques.
At the moment they are paying particular attention to youth in prisons and sex workers - both of which are high risk groups.
They are training 75 'change agents' (peer educators), organising 3 youth symposiums, along with 11 community theatre outrech groups - complete with mobile testing units,
As if this weren't enough to keep co-founders Dennis and Collins busy, they're also creating and distributing a monthly magazine, establishing a support group and organising monthly life skills demonstration forums.
Wow.
Keep up the great work, guys.
Want to help support projects like this one? Consider making a small donation - all money goes directly to the young people we support -CLICK HERE to find out how...
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Comments
by AMONY FLORENCE OYET on May 18 2009, 08:41 GMT
I thank you for the support you are helping HIV clients, i readly ever happy beasuse i am also HIV/AIDS positve and now on ART, we also have our group and now we doing some income generating activities to support us even if we don't have donor. thank florence an in Northern Uganda (Kitgum District).