By Debbie Gilliam, President of Aid Africa’s Children

2011 has been a fruitful year for Aid Africa’s Children and ended on a wonderful unexpected note! Wisconsins’s She Magazine’s annual Holiday "Spirit of Giving” Issue, feautured Aid Africa’s Children for the humanitarian work we did in Africa.   We are honored to be a part of this tradition.   http://www.she-magazine.com/home/. The response we have gotten has been tremendous and we are just thrilled!

We continue to increase our humanitarian efforts in making a difference to improve life for vulnerable and impoverished children in small African communities. This year our mission outreach has expanded to Malawi, as well as continuing projects in South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.

With a successful AAC benefit in April and an appearance at WBEZ’s Global Exposition, an increased organization awareness and networking were accomplished. AAC was invited to participate in this exposition with a select group of Chicago non profits.

Our  "Fund a Need" special collection raised over $3,700.00 which was sent to Tanzania for purchase of malaria medication. $25.00 can treat and save a child’s life in areas of Tanzania where malaria takes it toll on vulnerable children. We helped supply two clinics, Baraki and Tarime with this critical medicine.

AAC missionaries went to both Tanzania and South Africa this fall. Donated medical supplies were delivered to clinics. Our volunteer pediatrician taught several classes to 100 participants including village midwives and healthcare workers to help decrease infant mortality from breathing complications at birth. The program called "Helping Babies Breathe" was well received and brought numerous people together for the good of their communities. Maintenance upgrades were supervised and finished at Burguro Primary School on Kome Island in Tanzania.

Our  "Fund a Need" special collection raised over $3,700.00 which was sent to Tanzania for purchase of malaria medication. $25.00 can treat and save a child’s life in areas of Tanzania where malaria takes it toll on vulnerable children. We helped supply two clinics, Baraki and Tarime with this critical medicine.

Earlier this year AAC drilled a borehole for provision of clean water at a disabled children’s home in Mokoko Village- Musoma, Tanzania. With our recent decision to allocate funds, we will expand the access of water from this borehole to include the whole village. At this time, women in Mokoko walk a long distance to the lake where they retrieve unclean water for cooking and drinking for their families. Their journey is an unsafe one, and they are in jeopardy of being attacked and raped. We are hoping to improve life for this village.

In Malawi we funded a project at St. Jude nursery school to fence the area where vegetables are grown for food for the children. The fence was needed to keep out hippos that destroy the food supply. We have also donated funds to help provide meals for these children.

Aid Africa’s Children has continued to provide support in the rural community of Lethabong, South Africa. We focused on a group of teenage orphans who are head of household. (The group meets for mutual support and is called the Soul Sparkles.) We provide meals, Christmas parcels and help with the education expenses of a few of these youth motivated to pursuing higher education. This, along with sponsorships of orphaned families, helps empower these families and the community.

In South Africa our missionary  worked with numerous initiatives in Lethabong, facilitating and planning at a large crèche to make it more sustainable. She was involved in overseeing improvements in the kitchen, where meals are cooked to feed the children. She worked with community leaders to organize a trust document for the community and implemented measures to improve communications with internet connection.

Support and work with the teen orphans to develop action plans for their futures was also accomplished. In the city, financial assistance was given to Epworth House, a program which houses five orphaned children (some of them HIV positive) and their caretaker. AAC committed to a donation in 2012 and pledged to help with fundraising efforts to keep the residence open.

This has been indeed a busy year and much has been accomplished. We welcome volunteers who would join us in continuing to impact and empower children, and the families and communities that raise them up.

Debbie Gilliam

AAC President