Today, Thursday, Dec. 1, is World AIDS Day. This year’s theme:

Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths.

On World AIDS Day, organizations and world leaders hold events to commemorate and raise awareness around the struggles of people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Over the last month, world leaders have been speaking publicly in honor of the day, highlighting the need for not just medical interventions in treatment and prevention but education and awareness too. In her speech to the National Institute of Health, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton outlined the U.S.’s goal of “creating an AIDS-free generation.” She said, “Although the past 30 years have been a remarkable journey, we still have a long, hard road ahead of us. But today, thanks both to new knowledge and to new ways of applying it, we have the chance to give countless lives and futures to millions of people who are alive today, but equally, if not profoundly more importantly, to an entire generation yet to be born.”

At Amsha Africa Foundation, education through financial, health and life-skills training is an integral part of our services to our clients. We’re committed to life-skills training and education like this in order to improve all aspects of our clients’ lives.

We’re grateful that you are partnering with us to implement crucial services, including our training programs, which do so much to improve our clients’ quality of life. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support.

Did you know that you could "Lease" a solar panel system in the U.S. and other parts of the world?  The problem with solar has always been the large upfront cost, but that is changing. In some cases, people can sign up for a system with nothing down, or at least very little down.

These solar leases aren't available everywhere, so you'll have to check with one of the national companies that offers leases.  The best one we found in the U.S. was Solar City.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to get solar installed on your house with little out of pocket.  That changes a lot!  This makes solar affordable for many people that were previously priced out of the market.

AAF is working to promote the idea of solar leases with companies in Africa in an effort to promote green energy consumption. Click below to read more.

At Amsha Africa Foundation (AAF), we’re grateful for an exciting and productive year for our efforts to alleviate global poverty.

Happy New Year! Thanks For a Great 2010

In 2010, thanks to supporters and staff, we achieved many of our goals and were able to serve even more communities working their way out of poverty.

As exciting as 2010 was, we can’t wait to make even more of an impact on global poverty in the New Year.

We hope you’ll make 2011 the year you participate in one of our grassroots projects, volunteer, donate, and get more involved in our efforts to alleviate global poverty

Have a safe and happy New Year!

AAF Team

This Daily Nation article estimates that half of Kenyan women with HIV were abused in 2009, based on a recent self-reporting study.