Lifesaving antiretroviral (ARV) medication has existed for decades, but until 2002, it was too expensive to distribute to the developing world. In that year, The Global Fund was established to help eliminate AIDS (as well as TB and malaria), and in six short years, it has helped to put more than 3 million people on ARVs.

Now, the difference between life and death is only 40 cents per day—the cost to fund the ARVs. When patients are given these drugs, a phenomenal effect can happen. A person at death’s door can, in just 60 to 90 days, regain full health. It’s called the “Lazarus effect,” and it’s nothing short of miraculous.

HIV facts today

Even though AIDS now is preventable and treatable, it has killed more than 20 million people in Africa. Currently, 33 million people in the world have HIV, 22 million live in Africa. 67% of people with HIV live in Africa yet the continent is home to just 10% of the world’s population. The disease is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa with approximately 3,800 people dying every day from AIDS.

Women make up approximately 60% of estimated HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa and, as a result, women and children are the hardest hit by the disease. An estimated 14.1 million children in Africa have been orphaned because of AIDS already and this number is growing. More than 1,000 children, most within sub-Saharan Africa, are infected with HIV each day.

40 cents but still out of reach

It costs around 40 cents a day for the 2 antiretroviral pills needed to help keep someone living with HIV alive and healthy. Yet more than 70% of people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than $2 a day.

Another problem is that people living in rural areas don’t have access to clinics or medical posts where they could be tested, given the ARV medication and be monitored on a regular basis. Some are living many days travelling from the nearest clinic.

This problem is also seen in the IHCC clinic, the AIDS/HIV clinic in Accra (Ghana) we have supported over the last few years. The poorest of the poor come to this clinic, but they cannot afford the daily cost for the pills and the -very low- cost of consultation. Most cannot even pay the bus ride to the clinic.

Nowadays, Ghana has very cheap health insurance. It’s called NHIS (National Health Insurance Scheme), and the IHCC clinic is accredited. The insurance covers the ARV medication and consultation, but the 24 Cedis (14 dollar) per year it costs, is too much for these patients.

So, despite the hopeful improvements that have been made over the last few years, and the efforts of the Global Funds to provide free ARV medication to African countries, the reality is that these live-saving pills are still out of reach for many people.

Everyone knows something is very wrong in Darfur, but the exact details are unclear for many. Until I read ‘What is the what’, the autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng, written down in novelized form by Dave Eggers, I also understood little about the situation in Sudan.

Despite the fact that ‘What is the what’ is not about the Darfur region, but about the war that raged in Southern Sudan the past 20 years, the events in both areas basically share the same causes. In many ways history is repeating itself in Darfur.

What is ‘What is the what’

‘What is the what’ is the unbelievable story of the life of Valentino Achak Deng, a former ‘Lost Boy’, like the drifting children were called in the Sudanese war. The novel describes the true story of the horrendous ordeals the young Valentino is confronted with when he escapes from his village which is torched by the murderous Murahaleen militia. From that moment he is a running five-year old, unknowing of the fate of his family. With a group of hundreds of other Lost Boys, he undertakes an epic journey of years through the desert, to eventually end up in the enormous Kakuma refugee camp in Northern Kenia. What makes the book remarkable in my opinion (apart from the extraordinary challenges that Valentino has to face), is that the story does not contain any moral indignation, something you would expect considering the events described. You listen to a voice of someone who experiences all cruelties he is seeing and living through as a given. Because the reader experiences the events through the eyes of growing up Valentino, he/she realizes it is not just misery, but also simply the life of someone (and many like him) who tries to make the best of the situation, also in the most gruelling circumstances.

The reality of today in Sudan

Despite the fact that the book is the eyewitness account of just one person, ‘What is the what’ has made me understand what happened in the last 20 years in Sudan, and what is happening today again in Darfur and neigbouring Chad, where many of the refugees have fled:

The rapes and killings by the militias that caused hundreds of thousands of victims. The situation of millions of people who fled the violence and ended up in enormous refugee camps, living in very poor circumstances. The role of the cunning dictatorial regime in Khartoum, that buys weapons and high-tech attack helicopters to use against its own people. The feared Janjaweed militia, supported by the regime, who come on horseback, burn villages to the ground and murder and abuse all inhabitants. The genocide and ethnic cleansing that is taking place and the role of the regime in playing the different tribes off against each other. The rebel armies, mostly consisting of boy- and teen soldiers, who revolted against the government, but became so divided themselves that with the wars among each other they only contribute to the violence and chaos. The fact that international relief organisations can hardly do their work because they are worked against by the regime and their supplies and vehicles are robbed by the rebels. Endless bureaucratic procedures preventing journalists from getting the proper documents to enter Darfur.

The role of the international community

In a lot of countries there seems to be an revival of attention for the situation in Darfur. Many are wondering why there is no intervention by the United Nations, why there are no sanctions against the regime. The roles of China (with its huge interest in the oil reserves of Sudan), Russia (as an arms supplier to the government) and the United States (who work together with the Sudanese government in the war on terrorism because of the presence of Al Qaida in Sudan) all certainly have to do with it and prevent that serious international intervention is taking place. The UN envoy, dutchman Jan Pronk, was expelled from Sudan after he criticized the regime. There is going to be a UN peace army of 20.000 troups, replacing the African peace mission that failed due to lack of funds, proper mandate and organisation. Of course the presence of UN soldiers for protection of the people is a good thing, but probably only a drop of water in the Sudanese desert, considering the scale of the country and its conflicts.

The ‘Genocide Olympics’

A lot of people have had enough of the passive attitude of their political leaders. Voices are heard to use the coming Olympics in China to bring the attention of the world to the problems in Darfur. One of those voices is actrice Mia Farrow. She had the idea to rename the China Olympics to the ‘Genocide Olympics’ and to persuade athletes to wear t-shirts with ‘Team Genocide’ on it. In this way she hopes to draw attention the the role of China in the genocide in Darfur. She wrote an open letter to Steven Spielberg, who is the artistic director of the Games. He was not aware of the link between China and Darfur, was shocked and spoke to the president of China. China promptly sent a special envoy to Sudan. Needless to say, China is not very happy with this kind of attention for their Olympics.

Read all about the ‘Genocide Olympics’ on Mia Farrow’s website:

> www.miafarrow.org

What you can do for Darfur

In the Netherlands, this week the campaign ‘Sofar Darfur’ took place, meant to bring new attention to Darfur, seemingly forgotten by the public. I really hope this helps, and that political leaders finally see that this cannot continue, that something needs to be done to stop the genocide.

Stichting Stepping Stones for Africa Foundation does not have projects in Sudan or East Africa. But there are many ways to contribute, by supporting international relief organisations. A few suggestions:

Dutch websites:

> Tot zover Darfur
> Artsen zonder Grenzen, projecten in Darfur
> Stichting Vluchteling, Help Darfur actie
> Unicef, projecten in Darfur

English/international:

> Ten things you can do for Darfur, including links to various relief organisations

A direct action you can take at this moment, is to sign a petition of Amnesty International:

> Sign the Amnesty petition here

A Dutch petition of Amnesty urges the Sudanes government to extradite two key figures in the genocide to the International Criminal Court in The Hague:

> Sign the Dutch Amnesty petition here

More information about the book, Sudan and Darfur

Last but not least the website of Valentino Deng Achak. After he ended up in the United States together with a lot of other former Lost Boys, he founded the Valentino Deng Achak Foundation. The aim of this foundation is to raise funds for his home town Marial Bai, the development of Southern Sudan and Darfur. Take a look at his website, where amongst a lot of interesting stories, you can read an inspiring essay of Dave Eggers, about the writing of ‘What is the what’.

> www.valentinoachakdeng.org
> Essay of Dave Eggers about the writing of ‘What is the what’

To learn more about the similarities and differences between southern Sudan and Darfur, read the following article:

> Questions and answers about Southern Sudan and Darfur

For a brief overview of the history of Sudan, check out:

> Brief history of Sudan

I hope I inspired you to read this book. It can be ordered from Amazon.com or bol.com in the Netherlands:

> ‘What is the what’ at Amazon.com
> ‘What is the what’ at Bol.com

All proceeds of the book are going to the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation.

Remco Kalf.

Kurland, 20 kilometers east of the often visited by tourists, rich Plettenberg Bay. Kurland, anonymous, forgotten and without a future.

Kurland is one of the countless townships (slums) in South-Africa. Poverty and violence are common. People live in shacks made of wood, plastic and cardboard. Life is cheap in Kurland.

The kids of Kurland try to find their way out, and are looking for hope, love and happiness. Their cry for attention is heard by almost nobody.
They grow up in broken families, amidst of violence, alcoholism, unemployment and sadly, abuse. Despite their mostly hopeless situation, they keep smiling and dreaming, and are all unique children with an own story to tell.

These photos were made in the summer of 2004 in the Crags Primary school, the school in the Kurland township, by Remco Kalf.

You can support the kids of Kurland

You can support the kids of Kurland with a donation or by means of financial adoption.

Through the Stepping Stones for Africa foundation, you can give a donationthat will be spent totally on projects for the kids of Kurland.

An example of what is made possible through donations, is a school trip - something totally normal for our own children, but for the children in Kurland a lifetime event which takes them out of the daily situation for a while. Donations will be spent in cooperation with the Belgian/South African organisation ‘Born in Africa’, which is active in Kurland and a number of other townships around Plettenberg Bay.

We welcome any amount!

Financial adoption is possible directly through Born in Africa. Born in Africa supports individual children in de various townships around Plettenberg Bay, with afterschool activities, individual coaching and counselling as well as with clothing and shoes. Also school trips and outings are organised to give the children a break from their situation.

You can sponsor a child through Born in Africa for 250 euros per year. You become the ‘godfather’ or godmother’ and you will be informed regularly of the situation of your child with letters and photos.

More information can be found on www.borninafrica.org. Also see our article about Born in Africa.

You can download a pdf of this article here (with text in Dutch).

This small book, based upon the speech given by Bono at the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast, delivers an inspiring and powerful message. Here, in Bono’s own words, is a reflection on his own faith and a challenge to people of all faiths to reach across boundaries and come together on behalf of what the Scriptures call “the least of these.”

You can see a few pages of this book at the website of the One campaign.

You can order it at from Amazon or Bol.com (in the Netherlands):

> ‘On the move’ at Bol.com
> ‘On the move’ at Amazon.com

In every instance, Nolen has borne witness to the stories she relates, whether riding with truck driver Mohammed Ali on a journey across Kenya; following Tigist Haile Michael, a smart, shy fourteen-year-old Ethiopian orphan fending for herself and her baby brother on the slum streets of Addis Ababa; chronicling the efforts of Alice Kadzanja, an HIV-positive nurse in Malawi; or interviewing Nelson Mandela’s family about coming to terms with his own son’s death from AIDS. Nolen’s stories reveal how the disease works and spreads; how it is inextricably tied to conflict and famine and to the diverse cultures it has ravaged; how treatment works, and how people who can’t get treatment fight to stay alive with courage and dignity against huge odds.

Imagine the entire population of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles combined infected with HIV, and its magnitude in Africa is clear. Writing with power and simplicity, Stephanie Nolen makes us listen, allows us to understand, and inspires us to care. Timely and transformative, 28: Stories of AIDS in Africa is essential reading for anyone concerned about the fate of humankind.

28 stories of AIDS in Africa (English, hardcover) at Bol.com
28 stories of AIDS in Africa (English, paperback) at Bol.com
28 stories of AIDS in Africa (English, hardcover) at amazon.com

Clinton, Kurland, South Africa

This is Clinton. I met Clinton at the Crags Primary School in the township Kurland in South Africa, during a couple of weeks of volunteering in august 2004. The first photo was shot on august 25, the second on august 18 of 2004.

Clinton lives with both of his parents, his grandparents and his younger brother Quinten in a little house in the township. In 2004 he was 8 years old and was in second grade. He is 10 now and is doing well at school. Much better than in 2004, when he was often naughty and expelled from class. I remember Clinton as an intriguing little boy, fascinated by the camera and always wanting to help with carrying boxes and stuff for the school projects we organized. It was sometimes difficult to keep him apart from his brother Quinten, because of their similar sounding names and their similar appearance. Adding to the confusion they also wore each others clothes.

Because of the contact we made, I asked Isabelle of Born in Africa if he already had been adopted in their adoption program, which he wasn’t because of his behaviour in class. Back in the Netherlands, my mother adopted him, and I learned that around the same time, also his brother Quinten had been adopted by other people.

This means that both can take part in the after school activities, they get new clothes and - most important for kids in townships - they get personal attention and individual coaching and counselling.

By the letters we receive from Born in Africa, I know that Clinton is doing well in school at the moment and that his father has different jobs on and of. His mother is staying at home. Through Born in Africa, we send him a box with clothes and toys now and then.

For Google Earth users, here is the placemark for Kurland with the Crags Primary School in the top right corner.

Boy with pink glasses, Baobeng Fiema, Ghana

Cindy and I met this rather seriously looking boy with his funny pink glasses in Baobeng-Fiema, Ghana.

Baobeng-Fiema is the name of a wildlife sanctuary and of a small community of two little villages. The villages and the Baobeng Monkey Sanctuary are situated in an absolutely beautiful forest with huge and ancient trees. The villagers live peacefully together with two species of monkeys, which are considered sacred and are treated as humans.

The little boy and his brother we met when we were waiting along the roadside for a lift, very early in the morning of January 6, 2006. He brought us a mango for our breakfast.

Pumla and Busi, Kurland, South Africa

This is Pumla, and her daughter Busi. They live in a little shack in The Crags, also called Kurland, a township near Plettenberg Bay in South Africa.

I met Pumla when she was the housekeeper at the volunteering place I visited in august 2004, “Willing Workers in South Africa” (WWISA). I was told that Pumla left Wwisa early 2005, to take up a position as a Community Development Officer in training with the Bitou Municipality. She’s based in Kurland but has been to Cape Town and George for training input and, according to Wwisa, was doing exceptionally well. Busi visits the Crags Primary School and -as far as I know- is supported by Born in Africa.

This photo was taken on August, 6, 2004. It was a rainy day as you can see, and Pumla was worried her plastic roof would leak. The shacks in Kurland are made of wood, cardboard and plastic roofing. The walls on the inside are mostly made of cardboard boxes, newspapers and posters. Most of the shacks have electricity, and with that, sometimes a refridgerator and tv.

For Google Earth users, here is the placemark for Kurland with the Crags Primary School in the top right corner.

Inspired by the passion of Isabelle for her work, we would like you to get to know her organisation a little bit more:

BIA is an organization, which is completely independent of any political or religious authority. Our main purpose is to support the children’s rights, and to assist with their education. At the moment we are active in three primary schools (Harkerville, Wittedrift and Crags), one secondary school (Plett) and one crèche (Qolweni) in the greater Plettenberg Bay area.

We provide free education, individual counselling, holiday activities and camps for the BIA children as well as we run an after school care program for all the children in the schools where we are active. We also visit their homes on a regular basis to keep in touch with their family situation, and monitor the general health of our kids. When needed we arrange doctor’s appointments and transport to hospitals.

For the daily running of BIA, we have several qualified social workers / counsellors, a coordinator, a project manager, and two after-school teachers. We also work very closely with our team of dedicated Belgian volunteers, who come to South Africa, at their own cost, to assist us with these children. The work we do is made possible with the assistance of sponsors, the majority of which are Belgian. The godparents each pay a certain amount of money per year, which goes towards the education and upliftment of their “adopted child”.

Some pictures taken in Kurland, summer of 2004:

The Born in Africa vision

“The children’s rights are now fully part of the Human Rights Declaration but this is not enough to ensure their implementation in the daily life of all the children. We, Born in Africa, want to help to change this situation, by supporting and protecting the Children Rights. One of our main long term objectives is to help create a South African middle class. In our eyes that goal can only be reached by investing in childhood development and education.‘Born in Africa’ believes that every child has the right to a decent and complete school education. Every child has the right to have a dream, to choose his study orientation according to his dreams and to find a job that will fit him.

We believe that this process starts during the earliest stage of life, that is why we focus our activities around the children. We select, with the help of the school teachers and social workers, the very underprivileged but still motivated children, and assist these children by paying their school fees, buying their uniforms, jerseys, rain jackets, shoes and tracksuits. The general aim of the selection procedure is to find those children who are motivated to learn something, who have a positive attitude, and who have little chance to complete their school career without the support of Born in Africa. BIA believes that if we want to achieve our long term objectives, it is very important to work with the parents so they can support our work with their children. This has not been an easy task. The problems with the parents include drugs and alcohol addiction, domestic violence and issues that have to be seen at a higher management level. At our level, we know that we will not be able to solve all the problems but we are networking to involve the whole community in this fight against poverty and its consequences on health, education and the economy in general. This is the way we have chosen to bring our stone to the development of South Africa.”

The organisation is being set up in a truly global way. Among the founders are Deepak Chopra and former Nobel Peace Prize winner and former president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias.

Stepping Stones for Africa is inspired by the vision and mission of this network. Get inspired too on the Anh website and wiki and let us know what you think.
To get an idea about what Anh is about, we quote some text from the Anh website:

Crossroads

“We live in critically insecure times. Perceived and real instability is growing in many critical sectors of life. There is crisis in instability, but also hope. The choice depends on how humanity deals with four trends; each enmeshed and interconnected with the others: war, poverty, environmental degradation, human rights abuses. Each threat increases the severity of the other.

These problems are all related and so are the solutions.”

Our Intention

“To create an alliance of people based on the awareness of humanity’s interconnectedness. We believe that if enough people share the value of peace, war can be brought to an end. If enough people shift their awareness toward social justice, human rights, and environmental sustainability, then injustice, oppression, and the destruction of the eco-system can be stopped. Such a shift is already occurring, now it needs critical mass, which in turn needs organization. The Alliance aims to connect individuals, caring communities and groups at a global level.

Unity is not fought for and won. It is realized one person at a time.”

Actions

“Forming a global network of individuals and organizations united by awareness and concern.

Spreading the new story of humanity through the consolidated voices of this alliance, using media, information technology, entertainment, educational institutions, and dialogue in global and regional gatherings to awaken the public.

Establishing a Global Giving Exchange, by which these groups can help each other through information, funding, and support from a global “constellation”.

Inspiring and sharing the understanding that we are all part of a single humanity, a continuum of life with all of creation, and on that basis provide a new meaning to our lives.”

Our dream

“We envision a future illuminated by the truth of unity, a future where any boundary can be taken down because it has first come down in our hearts.

This vision is already a cause for celebration; soon it could guide a great evolutionary leap for all and provide the basis for sustainable solutions to humanity’s greatest threats.”