Current Phase - Funding 100
Funding 100 Initiative
100 × 100 Community Campaign
We invite 100 supporters to contribute $50 - $200 CAD each, helping raise the first $20,000 to support urgent school infrastructure repairs and launch the initial phase of the initiative.
* Every subscribed contribution (monthly for one year) becomes part of a Founder Contributor fir their collective effort to restore a safe learning environment and begin building long-term educational support for vulnerable children.
Together, 100 people can make a lasting impact.
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Yearly
Amount
$50
$100
$200
$1,000
Surrey, BC, Canada
Health Initiative
Supporting children born with HIV/AIDS through medical care, education, and community support.
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The Kenya program represents the first step in the Health Initiative, focusing on children living with HIV/AIDS in underserved communities.
Peace Initiative
Supporting women and children whose lives have been disrupted by conflict, violence, and social instability.
Health SCience Initiative
Supporting research and knowledge that improve prevention, care, and health systems for vulnerable populations.
Kenya Children Born with AIDS Initiative
Providing health, education, and opportunity for vulnerable children in Kenya.
This initiative supports children born with HIV/AIDS and those orphaned by the epidemic by providing education, basic healthcare support, nutrition, and a safe learning environment. The program works with Alliance Vision Educational Centre (AVEC), a community-based school located in the Dandora area of Nairobi, one of the largest urban informal settlements in Kenya. The school currently serves hundreds of vulnerable children, many of whom have lost parents to HIV/AIDS or are living with the virus themselves.
Pediatric HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa
Our Partner: Alliance Vision Educational Centre
Understanding Mother-to-Child Transmission and the Global Disparity
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains one of the most significant public health challenges worldwide. Although effective treatment now allows people living with HIV to lead long and stable lives, transmission to newborns continues to occur in certain regions. A large proportion of these cases are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa.
Understanding this situation requires examining epidemiology, healthcare access, and structural inequality rather than attributing the issue to geography or ethnicity alone.
What Does “Born with HIV” Mean?
Children are not genetically predisposed to HIV. Infection in newborns occurs through mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), also called vertical transmission.
Transmission can occur:
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During pregnancy
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During labor and delivery
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Through breastfeeding
Without medical treatment, the risk of transmission ranges between 15–45%. However, when mothers receive consistent antiretroviral therapy (ART), the risk drops to below 5%, and in many cases under 1%.
This means pediatric HIV is largely preventable with adequate healthcare systems in place.
The Global Distribution of HIV
According to international health agencies:
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Approximately 39 million people worldwide are living with HIV.
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Around 65–70% of these cases are in sub-Saharan Africa.
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More than 90% of children living with HIV are also in this region.
The high proportion of pediatric cases in Africa reflects the overall adult prevalence. Where adult HIV prevalence is high, the risk of mother-to-child transmission naturally increases.
Why Is the Burden Higher in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The disparity is primarily structural. Several interconnected factors contribute:
1. Higher Adult Prevalence
Certain countries in southern Africa have adult HIV prevalence rates exceeding 15–20%. This increases the baseline probability of maternal infection.
2. Limited Early Testing
In many low-resource areas:
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Not all pregnant women are tested early in pregnancy.
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Some women receive late or no prenatal care.
Without early diagnosis, preventive treatment cannot begin in time.
3. Inconsistent Treatment Access
Although ART coverage has improved significantly, challenges remain:
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Rural access barriers
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Medication shortages
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Transportation difficulties
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Health system instability
Interrupted treatment increases transmission risk.
4. Breastfeeding Constraints
In high-income countries, formula feeding is a safe alternative when mothers are HIV-positive. In many low-income regions, unsafe water and food insecurity make formula feeding dangerous. Therefore, breastfeeding remains necessary, increasing transmission risk if treatment is not optimized.
Why This Creates Ongoing Demand for Intervention
The concentration of pediatric HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa creates sustained demand for:
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Maternal screening programs
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Antiretroviral medication distribution
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Infant testing and follow-up
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Long-term pediatric treatment
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Community education
The issue is not biological inevitability. It reflects gaps in healthcare infrastructure, prevention coverage, and socioeconomic stability.
When treatment systems are strong, mother-to-child transmission can nearly be eliminated. Several African countries have already achieved dramatic reductions through coordinated intervention programs.
The Broader Context
HIV is now a manageable chronic condition when diagnosed and treated early. The persistence of pediatric HIV cases is therefore not a failure of medicine, but a reflection of unequal access to that medicine.
Reducing mother-to-child transmission requires:
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Stable healthcare systems
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Consistent drug supply
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Education and stigma reduction
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Sustainable funding
Addressing these structural determinants is essential to closing the global gap.
The Challenge
Sub-Saharan Africa carries the largest burden of pediatric HIV in the world.
Many children are born with HIV due to mother-to-child transmission, particularly where early screening and continuous treatment are difficult to access.
In communities facing poverty and limited healthcare infrastructure, children living with HIV often experience additional challenges:
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limited access to stable schooling
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food insecurity
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lack of medical monitoring
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loss of parental support
Without intervention, these factors can significantly affect long-term health, education, and life opportunities.
Alliance Vision Educational Centre (AVEC)
AVEC was established in 2007 as a community-based Christian educational initiative serving vulnerable children in Nairobi’s Dandora area. The school began as a small informal classroom and has grown to provide preschool, primary, and secondary education to approximately 200 students.
The school focuses particularly on:
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HIV/AIDS orphans
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children from urban slum communities
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children whose families cannot afford school fees
Despite limited resources, the teachers and staff continue to operate the school through community support and volunteer effort.
What the Program Provides
Support for this initiative helps provide essential services for vulnerable children, including:
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daily school meals
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school uniforms and learning materials
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access to education from preschool through secondary level
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basic medical services and monitoring
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safe accommodation and school facilities
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counseling and youth development programs
These services help stabilize children's health and allow them to continue their education.
Long-Term Impact
Education and early support significantly improve long-term outcomes for children living with HIV.
With access to treatment, nutrition, and stable schooling, children can grow, learn, and build independent futures. The program also plans to expand into vocational training and community skill development, helping young people develop practical skills that support long-term employment and economic stability.
Current Needs
To maintain and expand the program, the following areas require support:
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school feeding program
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textbooks and learning materials
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school uniforms
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classroom furniture and equipment
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computers and learning technology
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beds and dormitory supplies
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medical services for students
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staff allowances and school operations
These resources allow the school to continue serving vulnerable children and to expand its educational programs.
How You Can Help
Your support strengthens the systems that allow vulnerable children to remain healthy, continue their education, and build stable futures.
Contributions help provide:
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food and daily nutrition
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educational resources
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medical care access
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safe learning environments
Together, these supports transform survival into opportunity.
Support the Kenya Children Health Initiative
By supporting this program, you help ensure that children born into difficult circumstances have access to health, education, and a chance for a better life.
This initiative is part of the broader Vision of Health and Peace, which seeks to create long-term stability for vulnerable communities.
