AIDS Walk NYC: Join Team KCA!

Keep a Child Alive invites you to join Team KCA for the AIDS Walk NY on May 17, 2009. Please visit http://www.aidswalk.net/newyork/index.html to join the KCA team!

Click "Team Info" on the left side of the page, and then "Join a Team NOW." On the next page follow the instructions and find our team, "Keep a Child Alive - 9872"

Since 1986, AIDS Walk New York has raised millions for HIV programs in the US. As Keep a Child Alive is a community partner of Gay Men's Health Crisis, KCA will keep a majority of the funds raised by our team. Join Team KCA today and help make AIDS Walk NYC 2009 a success. Follow the above link or call Danielle Spitzer at 718.965.1111!

KCA College in South Africa

Join Tina, Eila, Briana and Kate on their January 2009 visit to three Keep a Child Alive sites in South Africa!

KCA Chapter Leaders Tina, Eila and Briana won a contest and were . You can win the same trip to South Africa for January 2010 by submitting a Public Service Announcement that advertises KCA's "Text 'ALIVE'" Campaign. Learn more about the Contest here.

I am Where I am Because Of Where I Have Been

Cecy Dlamini, 19, lives in Soweto, South Africa with her siblings, nieces, and nephews. After her mother passed away from complications with AIDS 6 years ago, Cecy has been responsible for caring for her family. Through the help of Ikageng Itireleng AIDS Ministry and Keep a Child Alive, Cecy has been able to raise her family and attend school. As she has a passion for writing and journalism, Cecy has decided to share her story with you.

Chapter 1 - Mother's Struggles

If there ever was a woman who completely and without any reservations, adored her children and was ready at a moment's notice to lay down her own life for those helpless bundles of joy she had so lovingly borne, it was my mother Sheila Dlamini. From her I learned that dignity and selfworth are qualities that are deeply sewn in one's soul and that even in the most desperate of situations one could still retain both. My mother would have rather died a thousand deaths before she let any harm to come to her children, and she tried to protect us from all things harmful.

When I was five years old my mother was pregnant with the twins, Bruce and Brian, and my father passed away due to severe malaria - or so we were told. What inexplicable pain my mother must have felt at the news of her husband's death, with four children already in existence and two more on the way.

In the years subsequent to my father's passing, my mother - who was illiterate - begged, borrowed, and almost stole before she worked as the only female construction worker in a railway company. After working for the railway company she began washing taxis at our local taxi rank. She asked drivers who were getting out of their shiny comfortable cars if she could wash their cars for them at a fee equivalent to one US Dollar.

One cold winter's day she approached a driver and he said she could wash his car. When she had finished her task the man told her that he worked in the building in front of them and that he had left his wallet in his office. He said that she should come to his office to collect it. With nothing in mind but getting enough money to buy food to feed her children back home (who had not eaten in two days), she stepped into the elevator with the man. Half way up the building the man pressed the emergency stop button and proceeded to brutally rape my mother. When he felt that he was satisfied forcing himself on a woman who was half his size he got up, dressed himself and ensured that the elevator procceeded to its destination. Then he left her there.

My mother didn’t have the taxi fare to get back home or money for supper, and she had just been violated in the most horrific of ways by a complete stranger. When she finally did get home that night after begging in the streets for taxi fare, she said nothing about what had happened. She kept the knowledge of the incident to herself until many years later when she shared it with my sister.

Birthday Fundraising for KCA

In lieu of receiving birthday gifts from friends and family, Jordan Sinclaire Nuernberg asked for donations to be made to Keep a Child Alive.

Jordan said she was inspired by her role model Alicia Keys to get involved with Keep a Child Alive. Her motivation for her party was to educate her friends about the many young people dying from AIDS each day, simply because they were born with the virus. After being blessed with a wonderful Christmas season, Jordan decided that there was no better time to raise money than her birthday. And for her birthday present, her friends and family helped her raise over $100.

After the event, Jordan wrote about how she believes that young people have the power to truly change the world. She believes that people should become more selfless and focus more attention on people who are in need of help. Jordan has clearly done that herself and can serve as a great inspiration for others.

Happy Birthday Jordan and thank you for your support!

The Presbyterian Church of St. Albans World AIDS Day Benefit Concert

On November 29, 2008, The Presbyterian Church of St. Albans, NY, hosted a World AIDS Day Benefit Concert for Keep a Child Alive.

Judith Henry of the church's Health Information Ministry wrote that their "goal was to increase our community's awareness about HIV and AIDS and how it affected everyone." During the event community members performed plays, danced and played music to educate the audience about the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the urgent need for action.

During the event donations were collected and over $530 was raised for KCA! We are grateful for your support and spreading the message.

One Child's Love Keeps Another Child Alive!

Meet one of Keep a Child Alive's youngest donors, 5 year old Sophia Guzman. Sophia fundraises for KCA every year by collecting donations in lieu of Christmas, Easter and Birthday presents! Sophia raised $418.00 on her 5th birthday this year, and guests at her birthday party signed up as monthly donors! Sophia also featured KCA on her "Life String" at her birthday party, which she hung to showcase her artwork and other important things in her life, including Keep a Child Alive!

Proud mom Michele thanked us for "teaching our children to be the new ambassadors of giving in this world!" Thank you Sophia, for setting the example, and for inspiring everyone around you to support our work. Together, we can keep many more children, just like you, alive.