This is an archived news story, written on: November 28, 2008

Monday 1 December 2008 was World AIDS Day. It marked another year in the fight against the disease and despite signs that the drugs to fight the disease are at last filtering down to those who most need them, the AIDS pandemic has continued to grow at an alarming rate. There were 2.7 million new cases diagnosed last year. Today, 20 years on from when World AIDS Day started there are 33 million people affected and in Sub-Saharan Africa the problem is particularly acute.

In Zambia, 16 per cent of the adult population is living with HIV/AIDS, paralysing the country’s economy. The deaths of parents and teachers are leaving much of the present generation orphaned, in poverty and vulnerable to the disease. The statistics may be distressing, but Tools for Self Reliance is working with its partners in Africa to help those affected by HIV/AIDS to break the cycle.

Tools for Self Reliance works exclusively in Africa, so much of our work affects communities and households adversely affected by the AIDS pandemic. Across six countries we support organisations in Africa who are helping people living with HIV/AIDS to stand on their own two feet.

Through our partner Kara Counselling, Tools for Self Reliance helps people living with HIV/AIDS in Zambia to get employable skills. We do this by providing tools, and paying for vocational and business skills training to go with the tools. Trainees learn about bicycle repair, bricklaying and tiling, carpentry and joinery, and they are taught micro-entrepreneurial skills so that they can set up in business and undertake paid work when they leave.

As well as providing tools and technical training many of our projects promote awareness of HIV/AIDS. For example, our partners in northern Ghana and throughout Tanzania provide life skills training in addition to vocational and business skills.