PROGRAMS

THE COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

GOALS:

• Provide a safe and resourceful environment conducive to a higher academic achievement at the elementary and secondary level.
• Reduce the gender gap in education by enhancing female enrollment at the elementary and secondary level.
• Reduce the illiteracy rate through the implementation of the ETP’s Literacy Program in our target communities.
• Provide African and American students with invaluable educational, cultural, and networking resources.

Empowering The Poor, Inc will achieve the above goals through the implementation of the Learning Resource Center, the Literacy Program and the Academic Partnership Program.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Learning Resource Center
• Literacy Program
• Academic Partnership

EMPOWERING THE Poor’s HIV/AIDS INITITAIVE

Goals:

To reduce the HIV infection rate and its stigma in the impoverished communities in sub Saharan Africa through prevention, testing, treatment, counseling and capacity building.

The Situation Today:

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the global epicenter of the AIDS epidemic.  This is the worst-affected region. Statistics are mind-numbing, disturbing and devastating to the fragile social and economic fabric of Africa.
As in 2005, the UNAIDS/WHO estimated that:

• 24.5 million People (adult and children) lived with HIV, as women disproportionately make 60% of the adult population.

• 2.7 million People in the region became newly infected.

•  2.0 million Adults and children died from AIDS. 

• Nine in ten children (younger than 15 years of age) living with HIV in the world are in sub Saharan Africa.

• Three-quarters of all women (15 years and older) living with HIV in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Every 4 minutes, young people aged 15-24 are infected with HIV.

Factors in HIV/AIDS Transmission in sub Saharan Africa

Given the diversity in sub Saharan Africa in terms of resources, economic, social, cultural, and political fabric, a generalized explanation for the high HIV infection and mortality rate due to AIDS would not be accurate. However, there are few and common factors that are difficult to ignore when one evaluates in depth the current state of HIV/AIDS in sub Saharan Africa.

• Poverty Trap

It is neither a curse nor a coincidence that sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest region in the world is at the same time the worst HIV/AIDS-affected. There is a strong link between the 24.5 million Africans who live with HIV and the 24.5 million who live on under a dollar a day in Africa. About 95% of this population is poor. Poverty results most likely in a lack of education, nutrition, health care, money, peace and dignity. Without an education, food and money, prostitution becomes for many young girls and women the way out of poverty.  Thus, the spread of HIV is perpetuated. The inability to access effective AIDS medications, proper nutrition, strong and safe support system to the HIV/AIDS victims, and weak immune system caused by previous diseases increase the mortality rate among people living with HIV in Africa.
Very few people are dying from AIDS in North America and Europe because they are educated, have access to medications, are better nourished, and have a strong support system which understands the epidemiology of AIDS and resources are readily available to enable victims to live as long as anybody.  
 

• Moral Decay

Virtues such as sexual abstinence, faithfulness and marital fidelity have taken a back seat in urban Africa. Both women and men are more sexually promiscuous for various reasons. On one hand, women and young girls are sexually promiscuous for materialistic purposes, such as obtaining basic necessities such as food, shelter, school grades, money, job, and social status. On the other hand, men have redefined relationship (marriage and boy or girlfriends) as a multiple sexual partnerships affair. It is believed that variety in sexual partners is essential to men’s nature and that men will inevitably seek multiple partners for sexual release. (Mane, Rao Gupta et al. 1994; Weiss, Whelan et al. 1996; Rao Gupta). Thus, in patriarchal societies like most of Africa, it is culturally accepted that men have multiple sexual partnerships. As a result these negative sexual behavior increases the vulnerability to HIV and the spread of AIDS.
 

• Incessant armed conflicts

The endless cycle of violence in the region contributes to the high HIV infection rate. Many studies and data proved that countries torn by war have a high HIV incidence, because the risk of sexual violence increases dramatically.
Women, young girls, and children are the most vulnerable population, especially in times of war. Those who survive civil wars, become easy prey for the rapists (warlords, rebels, soldiers, and international peacekeepers).  The survivors of wars face huge challenges, as they do not possess money, job, family, food, shelter, and protection. Prostitution becomes a way out.  Thus, the vicious cycle of HIV/AIDS is perpetuated.

Core Competencies

• ABC Approach

THE WOMEN MICRO LOANS PROGRAM

GOAL:

To enhance the entrepreneurial and leadership skills of women in our target communities.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Basic financial and accounting class
• Seed & Fertilizer Loans
• Small business Loans
• Saving Plan (Precautionary saving)

VISAGES OF AFRICA

GOAL

To promote a positive outlook of Africa abroad, and to facilitate its integration into the mainstream global economy.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Newsletter (Quarterly)
• Africa-Expo (Annual Event)
• Conferences