Imani Project Winter/Spring Update 2011

The Imani Project has had a very busy winter and spring, both here in Portland, Oregon and in Kenya. The project continues to grow, and we are able to reach more and more villagers every year with HIV/AIDS education, awareness and prevention information. This coming September, myself and four American volunteers are traveling to Kenya to teach in remote villages and schools.

These past months we have accomplished the following:

• Provided funds for a copier for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children's Center (to make copies of HIV/AIDS information for villages and schools).
• Provided funds for a sewing machine (tredle) to make school uniforms for HIV/AIDS orphans and their siblings.
• Provided funding for seeds, pesticides and mosquito nets for 40 (forty) unsponsored children and their fostering families.
• Provided funding to purchase 3000 mosquito nets to be given out at the classes this fall.
• The Imani Project volunteers in Kenya have taught in 12 schools and villages this year.
• HIV/AIDS orphan sponsorship continues to grow; we now have 60 HIV/AIDS orphans being sponsored by individuals and families.
• We are working with Solar Hope (info@solar-hope.org) to have solar panels installed at the Imani Project Office and surrounding buildings.
• We have an intern from Portland State University in the Global Studies program working with us.
• In August, the Imani Project Board will work for a semester with the Willamette University MBA experiential learning program to develop new programs and strategies for the Imani Project.

Fundraising efforts:

• Chantal's Little Shoes (www.imaniproject.org/art); beautiful handmade felted shoes for babies and toddlers and all profits go to Imani Project HIV/AIDS orphans.
• David Filer, poetry website (www.davidfiler.com). Magical, beautifully written poems; books available for sale and all profits go to the Imani Project.
• Tupper Malone's Sacred Words Collection of amazing artwork; a portion of each sale goes to the Imani Project (www.imaniproject.org).
• Funding opportunities, for a much needed well in the villages where the Imani Project provides services, are being explored.
• We've sold over $4000 worth of handmade crafts from African villagers and artisans (l00% of the profits goes directly back to Africa).

The goal of the Imani Project is to enable and empower rural Kenyan villagers to become educators, advocates, caregivers and HIV/AIDS activists in their communities with the outcome of significantly reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS infection and transmission. The Imani Project provides support services to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, and villagers living with HIV/AIDS. Medical care is also provided for villagers in remote village locations. The American Imani Project provides guidance, leadership and funding to develop programs that are economically and environmentally sustainable. One enormous problem for the villagers is lack of access to drinking water. Many serious and life threatening medical issues arise when polluted water is used for drinking, cooking and bathing. Perhaps the greatest need currently facing the villagers is a source of clean water.