African Women's Development Fund at the International Aids Conference in Mexico

I am excited about AWDF's activities at the International Aids Conference which will be held in Mexico from the 3rd to the 8th of August. I will be in Mexico so will be sharing with you some of the events, workshops and convenings that AWDF will be participating in. I am also sharing below our press release for our activities in Mexico:

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

AWDF’S ACTIVITIES AT XVII INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE, MEXICO, 3-8 AUGUST 2008

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) will be attending the XVII International Aids Conference in Mexico, August 3rd- 8th. Activities AWDF will be involved in at the Mexico conference include the press launch of a progress document on the achievements of our HIV/AIDS fund since it’s inception in November 2005. To date, AWDF’s HIV/AIDS fund has disbursed U$2,013,375 in grants to107 African women’s organisations in 25 countries, provided grant-making and technical support for grassroots organisations, networks and support groups of women living with HIV/AIDS in several countries and invested in multi-year funding in order to scale up some of the initiatives of African women’s organisations working on HIV/AIDS. Key events for AWDF at the Mexico conference include:

Wednesday, 6th of August, 14:00 – 14:45, Venue: Room 3, Olmecas, Media Centre, Hall A, Level 1: AWDF will be holding a press conference on the achievements of our HIV/AIDS fund and will be launching the progress report. Speakers will include Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Executive Director of AWDF; Chantal Cuddumbey, Nelson Mandela Foundation; Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, Secretary General, World YWCA; Siphiwe Hlophe, Director, Swaziland Positive Living for Life; and Lucy Mensah, Executive Director, Women United against Aids in Ghana.

Wednesday, 6th August, 16.30 – 18.00, Venue: session room 4: The Executive Director of AWDF, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi will be moderating a workshop on ‘The AIDS Care Economy and the Burden on Women’.

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AWDF’S ACTIVITIES AT XVII INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE

AWDF’s grantee partners at the Mexico conference

In order to support and amplify the voices of African women at the International Aids Conference in Mexico, 2008, AWDF has provided grants to support the participation of the following women working on HIV/AIDS issues in their respective countries:

Ms Grace Mutheu Muli - Young Women Campaign Against Aids (Kenya)
Ms Siphiwe Hlope - Swaziland Positive Living (Swaziland)
Ms Annie Namanyi - Busia Widows and Orphans Association (Uganda)
Ms Susan Koyoo - Kenya Widows and Orphans Support Programme (Kenya)
Ms Ethel Sakitey - Prolink (Ghana)
Ms Xohle Mtsefwa - Swaziland Positive Living (Swaziland)
Ms Lucy Mensah – Women United Against Aids in Ghana (Ghana)

ENDS

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a grant-making foundation which supports local, national and regional organisations in Africa working towards women’s empowerment. AWDF through institutional capacity building and programme development seeks to build a culture of learning and partnerships within the African women’s movement.

The vision of AWDF is for African women to live in a world in which there is social justice, equality and respect for women’s human rights. To this end, our mission is to mobilise financial resources to support local, national and regional initiatives led by women, which will lead to the achievement of this vision.

Press Enquiries
Nana Sekyiamah – Programme Officer (Fundraising & Communications)
Tel: + 233 21 780476/7
Fax: +233 21 782502
Email: nana@awdf.org
Websites: www.awdf.org, www.13campaign.org