Q: You talk about “mission trips” that you send to Africa. Does that mean that you are a religious group?
A: Aid Africa’s Children, Inc is incorporated as a charitable organization, not a religious one. The trips we send to African countries include people from all faith backgrounds, though our host organizations are often churches and inter-denominational Christian community organizations. The work that we do is primarily humanitarian in nature.
Q: Can anyone join you on your mission trips to Africa?
A: We look for people with certain qualifications on each trip. For example, if we are focusing on teaching and education on a trip, we will look for people that have teaching and social services backgrounds. Medical trips require people with medical backgrounds, etc.
Q: What are the precautions necessary for traveling throughout Africa?
A: We provide instructions on the recommended immunizations for travel on the mission trip. We train our missioners carefully in cross-cultural traditions and communications.
Q: Will my donations be tax deductible?
A: Yes. Your donation will provide much needed funding for projects such as community development, medical assistance and disease prevention. Aid Africa’s Children, Inc. is a Not For Profit corporation qualified as a 501(c)(3).
Q: You talk about community building and projects that you pay for. Wouldn’t it make more sense to just give the children money for food?
A: We have found the best way to help the children is to address the physical, social, and economic needs of the communities in which they live. We do crisis intervention by providing food, water and medical needs. We also meet with community leaders to assess the needs of each community from their perspective. The old saying, “Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; teach him to fish he will eat for a lifetime” has validity in African countries. We aim to empower the children and their caregivers by teaching them to be independent of donations for their sustenance. Most adults and caregivers definitely have great needs that we can financially help with, but the most healthy, long-term social dynamic is to support and encourage them in their efforts to help themselves.
Q: Why go to Africa?
A: Different people are called to help in different areas of the world. Our vision is to help the children of Africa. According to 2006 data from UNAIDS, 15,000,000 children worldwide have been orphaned by AIDS, 13 million from Sub Saharan Africa. It is our mission to help here.