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FHI AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN VIENNA ON MICROBICIDE BREAKTHROUGH
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Vienna, July 2010 - Marion Bunch attended the International AIDS Conference on behalf of Rotarians For Fighting AIDS in July. Her report summarizing the key themes and findings from the conference is attached. Pictured on the Right:
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ROTARIANS FOR FIGHTING AIDS AND FHI TO COLLABORATE ON INITIATIVES FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
Montreal, June 22, 2010 –Rotarians for Fighting AIDS, a Rotarian Action Group recognized by the Board of Directors of Rotary International that works to improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS, and FHI, a global health and development organization whose science-based programs bring lasting change to the world's most vulnerable people, today announced a Memorandum of Understanding committing the two organizations to explore potential collaborative initiatives.
The two organizations made the announcement at the Rotary International Convention in Montreal, Canada. The memorandum of understanding commits RFFA and FHI to draw on their complementary capabilities, resource networks, and respective areas of expertise to seek collaborative opportunities, primarily in Africa, to provide care, nutrition, education, and life skills to orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Albert J. Siemens, Chairman and CEO of FHI, stated, "The collaboration between FHI and Rotarians for Fighting AIDS is a natural fit: we share a vision of improving lives and a special commitment to providing a brighter future for children whose lives have been devastated by HIV/AIDS. RFFA's feet on the ground, global donor base, communications infrastructure, and outstanding partnerships, coupled with FHI's unmatched technical expertise, science-based solutions, and worldwide platform of people and health and development programs, offer the potential for highly effective initiatives that will make lasting improvements in children's lives."
Marion Bunch, RFFA's CEO, said, "I am excited about the partnership with FHI because both organizations are committed to helping the children made vulnerable by AIDS. We have the ability to create a stronger sustainable solution by working together, using the efforts of Rotarian leadership both at the country level and international level, with FHI's technical expertise and leading edge programs."
Rotarians for Fighting AIDS (RFFA) improves the lives of orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS through the power of Rotarians. RFFA mobilizes Rotarians and partners to provide care, nutrition, education, and life skills, thereby mitigating the consequences of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
FHI is a global health and development organization whose rigorous, science-based approach builds programs that create lasting change. Founded in 1971, FHI maintains offices and staff worldwide, helping to forge strong local relationships that enable it to make measurable progress against disease, poverty, and inequity—improving lives for millions.
RFFA Presents 2010 Annual HERO Award in Montreal
RFFA CEO, Marion Bunch, presented the annual “Jerome W. Schutz HERO Award” to GERALD ROBINSON of the Flower Mounds Rotary Club, Rotary District 5790. The Award was given during the RFFA Annual Meeting at the Montreal convention
. Paula Kratohvil, President-Elect of the Club accepted the award on Gerald’s behalf for the $33,750 he raised for the orphans and vulnerable children of Africa through 2010. This number includes the donation of $5,850 given to RFFA’s Orphan Rescue program at the meeting. The RFFA HERO Award is in named in recognition of Marion’s son, Jerry, who died of AIDS in 1994. Congratulations and our deepest appreciation to GERALD AND THE FLOWER MOUNDS ROTARY CLUB!!
Will you join us in Montreal?
Distribution of School Uniform And Issuing Of School Fee Cheques At Mathare Polytechnic
 Members of the Rotary Community Corps of Mathare and Huruma prepare contents of Orphan Rescue Kits for distribution to the students. |
 RFFA Kenya Representatives Keith Castelino and Eric Krystal present checks for Orphan Rescue donated school fees to deserving students. Also attending was Malinda Wheeler, Director HOPE Worldwide Kenya. |
 Thanks to Orphan Rescue Kits and generous donations from Rotarians, we are attending school. |
 The Presidents of Rotary Community Corps of Mathare and Huruma, accompanied by Malinda Wheeler of HOPE Worldwide and RFFA Kenyan team members Eric Krystal, District 9200 AIDS Officer a Keith Castelino, Kenya Country Chair offer gifts of education donated by Australian Rotarians. |
 RFFA Kenya Country Chair Keith Castelino and youth assisted by Orphan Rescue. |
 Kenyan Rotarians and RFFA Country Leaders, along with the officers of the RCCs of Mathate and Huruma sponsored the presentation of ORKs to the youth of Mathare. |
Marion Bunch, Founder and CEO of RFFA gives keynote presentations to Rotary International Districts 9680 and 9700 at their District Conferences
All I can say is amazing, inspirational and motivational! Marion had our mob quiet as church mouses and totally engaged in what she had to say. It has already made my job a whole lot easier and one club president said he will have all 45 members of his club join RFFA.
The DGN Ian Simpson for D9700 also came up to me and said "Now it is clear as daylight on what we have to do, up until I had heard Marion I was not sure what you wanted us to do."
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Click Here to read the full story
Mothusi, South Africa HIV/AIDS Project receives new vehicle thanks to the generosity of a grant from The Rotary Club of Royal-Vale, United Kingdom.
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Click Here to read the Thank You Letter
Orphan Rescue Kit (O.R.K.)
During RFFA's first year, we initiated a major international partnership and the Orphan Rescue project. First, a partnership called the African Network for Children Orphaned and at Risk ("ANCHOR") was created. USAID funds ($8.1 million) were granted to ANCHOR for a project designed to improve the well-being and protection of 146,000 orphans and vulnerable children in African countries. "Orphan Rescue" was born and announced at Rotary International's Centennial Convention in Chicago, June, 2005.
RFFA Founder Featured in The Rotarian
October 2009's issue of The Rotarian magazine features Rotarians For Fighting AIDS, Inc. Founder Marion Bunch.
The Up Front segment credits the partnerships built with Coca Cola, HOPE worldwide and PEPFAR (The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) as key players in RFFA.
RFFA Featured in Rotary Africa Magazine
May Rotary Africa Editor's Note
In her Editor's letter at the beginning of the May Rotary Africa magazine, Sarah van Heerden wrote: "Politics is unique to each country. However the problems faced by Africa's poor people contaminates the continent as a whole and are not unique to a specific country. That is why is was heart warming to read of how powerful partnerships are making a difference and reaching across borders to help ease the suffering faced by children. One story that caught my attention this month was that of how the Rotary Action Group RFFA (Rotarians for Fighting AIDS) and its partnership with HOPE Worldwide and The Coca Cola African Foundation, sent a convoy of trucks from South Africa to Harare and delivered more that 100 tonnes of aid to Zimbabwe (page 11). Inspiring stuff from the RFFA team and I can't wait to see what the team does next!"
The article, titled Powerful Partners, provides an overview of the work RFFA is doing and highlights how Rotarians, The Coca Cola Africa Foundation and HOPE worldwide engineered an emergency food drop. Here's the report from Rotary Africa:
Powerful Partners - Rotary Africa Magazine
One of the main activities of The Rotary Action Group RFFA (Rotarians for fighting AIDS) is its partnership with HOPE Worldwide and The Coca Cola African Foundation to provide care, support and services to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in seven African countries. The partnership is called ANCHOR - African Network of Children Orphaned and at Risk:
Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa and Mozambique (with Canadian Rotarians).
Previously, despite numerous attempts RFFA has not been able to start operations in Zimbabwe.
In December 2008 Hope Worldwide well-wishers in America sent US$4,000 to help feed hungry OV children in Zimbabwe. These children have fallen victim to the ongoing food shortages, the cholera crisis and the complete breakdown of medical services that plague the country.
Hope WW asked RFFA to assist. RFFA Rotarians in Harare were contacted and asked to distribute this money (or the food it could buy) to best effect.
Their other African partner, The Coca Cola Africa Foundation, rushed to assist and made more than US$100,000 available.
Suddenly the project to bring relief to Zimbabwe's orphaned and vulnerable children had blossomed into a project of a far greater magnitude. The sudden magnitude of the project failed to daunt the Zimbabwean Rotarians who immediately expanded their reach and identified up to 2 000 OVC, families and communities that were in dire need.
Wonderful co-operation by all parties involved, including the transport to freight forwarders and the Coke bottlers in Harare, saw 94 tonnes of maize meal, 6 000 litres of cooking oil, 7.5 tonnes of sugar beans and 3.75 tonnes of green soap, begin the journey to Zimbabwe from Heidelburg, at the beginning of May. A mere 48 hours after the trucks left, the goods had been off loaded and stored in Harare.
Food distribution has begun, as part of a planned programme to feed and support the needy beneficiaries during the next three months.
RFFA Fall 2009 Newsletter
RFFA's Fall 2009 newsletter is available in a full color version or in text only format. Topics include RFFA Awards presented in Birmingham, England, HIV-Free Generation in Kenya Update, Coca Cola Africa and the Chongwe School, District 9700 ORK Challenge a Success.
