Africa Connections is grateful for all the church support offered during its 18-plus years as a Social Justice Action Group. Our global outreach work tied in with the Unitarian Universalist 7th Principle regarding the interconnected web of life. Over the years, we supported three nonprofit organizations in Africa working with vulnerable populations; the “Imani Project,” “Quilts of Empowerment” and the “Zimbabwe Artists Project.”
Now is our time to sunset as a Social Justice Action Group and continue as a community-based group supporting the “Imani Project.”
The Imani Project https://imaniproject.org/
The Imani Project has supported communities deeply impacted by HIV/AIDS in 44 remote villages in coastal Kenya. Medical services, HIV/AIDS preventative education services, sponsorships of HIV/AIDS orphans, assistance to disabled children, and a host of other supporters have helped these communities gain some control over the HIV/AIDS epidemic in their area and move towards self-sufficiency. Education starting with free pre-school and up through college age has been provided. In addition, IMANI created support groups for 300 villagers with HIV/AIDS and offered free transportation assistance to medical appointments and for health-related emergencies. Wheelchairs were provided to disabled children, and footwear was purchased to reduce the incidence of jigger infections in ambulatory children. Following five consecutive seasons of drought, these communities have experienced considerable food insecurity; hence the “Imani Project “ provided villagers with drought-resistant seeds, water collection jerry cans, dry food supplies, and hand washing stations for hygiene purposes. IMANI facilitated training through World Vision, which launched community leaders into looking at how they can mitigate the impact of Climate Change on their agricultural practices. Imani has assisted the community with building composting toilets and helped families provide mosquito nets, goats, chickens, and other small farm animals. Our work will continue with the “IMANI Project,” so we encourage any congregants interested in sponsoring HIV/AIDS orphans or who need further information to contact Annie Bennett at annben74@icloud.com.
Quilts for Empowerment https://www.quiltsforempowerment.org/home
It has had two distinct programs to create a world where all women and girls are safe, healthy, and independent.
The women’s program focuses on reintegrating women who have suffered from female genital fistulas. Post surgically, this program has enabled them to become self-sufficient and resulted in economic independence. Instruction in quilting, where they were able to sell their products, along with education, support, and mentoring on how to form their businesses, has been successful.
QFE has a residential program for 12 young girls who have experienced gender-based violence, most commonly sexual assault. All live in a duplex inside the QFE compound, supervised and loved by QFE’s program director. In addition to regular healthy meals, medical supervision, and private day and boarding school enrollment, all girls receive trauma-informed counseling from QFE’s experienced child clinical psychologist. US donors contribute to a fund supporting the girls’ upkeep and school fees.
To reduce teen pregnancies and due to the vulnerability of sex-trafficked young girls in this area, “Quilts For Empowerment” launched an after-school program aimed at educating 90 girls to become role models, community educators, and advocates who will raise awareness about girl sexual and reproductive health rights and enlighten them regarding sexual and gender-based violence.
It is with great sadness that we report the recent death of Mary Ann McCammon, congregant, founder, and director of “Quilts For Empowerment” on 11/25/22.“Zimbabwe Artists Project” provided over 20 years of support to artists with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Founded by congregant Dick Adams, this project facilitated the sale of their art, enabling the artists to pay for their retroviral medications and other health treatments, ultimately moving them towards self-sufficiency and economic independence.
