EDUCATION FIGHTS AIDS ANNUAL REPORT 2011
()$ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO PROMOTING THE SUCCESSFUL FUTURE OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS THROUGH EDUCATION, ENTERPRISE, AND EMPOWERMENT.
EFA International is a 501(c)3-registered non-profit organization (EIN: 20-5484031) in the United States of America and a legally established organization in Cameroon.
CONTACT INFORMATION [email protected] 301 Seaton Place, NE #1, Washington, DC 20002, USA +1 617 233 6201 B.P. 151, Maroua, CAMEROON +237 7536 4302
www.efainternational.org
STAFF Country Representative: Alim Ousmanou Program Manager: Amada Tchake Administrative Assistant: Madame Gambo Operations Manager: Pierre Dikoua
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dana Allen-Greil Roger Charles Mbouti “Charly Templar” Rachel Hoy Deussom Kathryn McKissick Whitney Isenhower Jeremy Salome Andrew Koleros
1 EFA INTERNATIONAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
From the Board of Directors ...... 4
From the Regional Office...... 6
From EFA’s Youth Empowerment Network...... 7
Our presence ...... 10
Our Staff ...... 11
EDUCATION ...... 14
Building Capacity and Professional Skills for HIV-affected Youth Associations...... 14
Expanding HIV Peer Education...... 18
Improving Gender Equality...... 19
Reaching out to communities ...... 20
ENTERPRISE ...... 21
Income Generating Activities...... 21
Technical Assistants Program...... 23
EMPOWERMENT...... 24
Youth Empowerment Network & Coordination Committee ...... 24
In their own words: Multimedia Resource center...... 25
Partnerships in Health ...... 26
Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon ...... 26
Circle of Love ...... 27
In the News ...... 29
Donors and Supporters ...... 30
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ...... 31
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT POLICIES ...... 35
II. INVESTMENTS ...... 35
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 2 LIST OF ACRONYMS
AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome
ARVs anti-retroviral drugs
CARE Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere
CC Coordination Committee
EFA Education Fights AIDS
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
IEC information, education, communication
IGA income generation activity
MINSANTE Ministère de la Santé au Cameroun / Cameroonian Ministry of Health
M&E monitoring and evaluation
NGO non-governmental organization
OVC orphans and vulnerable children
PCV Peace Corps Volunteer
PEPFAR (United States) President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
PLWHA Person/people living with HIV/AIDS
PMTCT prevention of mother-to-child transmission
RPCV Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
S-GBV Sexual- and gender-based violence
STI sexually transmitted infection
TA Technical Assistant
TB Tuberculosis
UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
UNDP United Nations Development Program
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
UPEC Unité de Prise en Charge / (HIV/AIDS) Care Provision Unit
VCT voluntary counseling and testing
YEN youth empowerment network
3 EFA INTERNATIONAL FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dear Friends of EFA International,
This was an important year in the global HIV response, both in remembering the past and in looking towards the future. As the global community marked the 30th anniversary of the HIV/AIDS epidemic it was a year that we reflected on our successes and losses in the past three decades; while at the same time, there were important and positive changes that took place on the global HIV landscape indicating a brighter future. Most notably, ground- breaking research has now shown that early treatment of HIV infection positively impacts health outcomes for both people living with HIV and their sexual partners. Medical advances in treatments available to manage HIV infection and increased access to HIV care and support services throughout the world are transforming an HIV diagnosis from a death sentence to a manageable chronic disease for many people. Now more than ever, HIV- positive people are finding ways to stay healthier and protect those around them from being infected. The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirmed America’s commitment to an “AIDS-Free Generation” in November 2011, further emphasizing the significance of this shift. The global commitment was further exemplified by the 2011 World AIDS Day theme: Zero New Infections, Zero Deaths, and Zero Discrimination. This global momentum towards an AIDS-free generation will require partnership and commitment at all levels.
EFA International is leading the way to implementing this transformation on the ground in the Far North Region of Cameroon, by adapting our organization to meet the evolving needs of our beneficiaries and to respond to global shifts based on the most up-to-date evidence and innovations that have demonstrated success in preventing new HIV infections and providing efficient and effective care to those who are living with HIV. Our mission was officially amended this year to better meet the needs of our beneficiaries and our leadership in evidence-based programming was extended and expanded.
HOW HAVE WE ADAPTED OUR MISSION? We’ve evolved our mission to focus on both youth and families: As our key populations’ demographic diversi- fies, EFA has reflected upon its mission to include a greater focus on families as the foundation for community. This shift is based upon the realization that some of the youth in the first support groups were growing into vibrant, active adults, as well as a commitment to acknowledge and respond to the needs of all individuals seeking to access EFA’s services, regardless of their age. EFA recognizes that it takes families and communities to engender an AIDS-free generation.
We’ve amended the language in our mission to include non-stigmatizing terminology: Reflecting the updated UNAIDS language referring to HIV and AIDS, we address the need to distinguish between the two. Rather than “infected with and /or affected by”, we recognize that individuals and families feel the impact of HIV and AIDS, from a health perspective and an economic perspective.
We’ve expanded our mission to formally address the links between HIV and poverty: By including enterprise support as a main intervention, EFA International’s programmatic approaches have always recognized that HIV- positive individuals require resources to stay healthy, because with health they can lead successful lives and contribute to their communities. Our first income-generation activity started in 2006. We felt it was important to recognize this aspect of EFA’s contributions and explore ways to expand enterprise opportunities as more youth EFA-supported associations
* UNAIDS Terminology Guidelines, October 2011. http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2011/ JC2118_terminology-guidelines_en.pdf
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 4 HOW DO OUR PROGRAMS RESPOND TO OUR NEW MISSION? For over half a decade, EFA International has responded to its mission of promoting the successful future of young men and women who are touched by HIV. We are proud of what has been achieved by our programs:
EDUCATION ENTERPRISE EMPOWERMENT • We provided professional skills • EFA-supported associations are • Our technical assistants supported new support to 9 HIV-positive associations continuing to conduct profitable and associations to better manage their throughout the Far North. productive income generating activi- activities and guided their integration ties, with funding through the UNDP. into the Youth Empowerment Network. • We trained 38 new peer educators in HIV prevention education and commu- • We continued to support the Circle • Our Coordination Committee continued nity mobilization. of Love, a program for vulnerable to serve as an important advocacy HIV-positive women to cover costs and and exchange forum for young people • We continued to work in partnership improve access to necessary medical living with HIV in the region. with the US Government to support diagnostics related to their HIV status. peer educators and technical advisors. • EFA’s Youth Empowerment Network • We continued to work closely with the expanded across Northern Cameroon • We successfully implemented our regional directorate of the Ministry of with 4 new groups established or in first grant from TrustAfrica, and Health, where EFA-supported associa- training in 2011. trained 50 peer educators in sexual- tions are building partnerships with and gender-based violence (S-GBV) local health centers to ensure the prevention and gender equality, who quality and continuum of care provided in turn conducted S-GBV communica- to people living with HIV/AIDS. tions outreach to 8,000 community members.
• We provided HIV prevention education messages to 18,600 men, women, and youth during 129 outreach sessions in communities vulnerable to HIV and AIDS due to low levels of education, socioeconomic status, and gender dynamics.
You will see that our Regional Office has taken amazing strides in their leadership and ownership of the programs. This year, for the first time, this report is a direct account of the regional office staff and the associations themselves.
We are grateful to you, our donors, for your support that has enabled these successes.
Respectfully, Andrew Koleros, MPH Co-Founder, Treasurer Board of Directors, EFA International
5 EFA INTERNATIONAL FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE
Dear friends and supporters of EFA,
For EFA International, 2011 was a year marked by many activities at our Regional Office in Maroua and within EFA’s Youth Empowerment Network and their associations, with many taking encouraging steps towards autonomy, serenely assuming their futures and their destinies. To assist in accomplishing this weighty task, the Regional Office staff implemented many strategies and functioning mechanisms for the Youth Empowerment Network’s Coordination Committee, as well as with EFA’s Peer Educators, Technical Assistants, and Peer Educa- tion Trainers. All of this was accomplished with the support, orientation and blessings of the Board.
Among the challenges that EFA successfully overcame in 2011, we: supported new HIV support associations for the establishment, self-management, and integration to the Youth Empowerment Network; refined the Peer Education program; and consolidated partnerships with the Ministry of Health and other public health stake- holders in the region.
EFA International is proud to count the well-trained and experienced professionals at the heart of its network: nine Technical Assistants, 50 peer educators, and 16 dedicated members of the Coordination Committee. Nine HIV associations are solidly established, with two in early development. The other seven benefiting from income-generating activities are in the process of reaching financial independence and earning profits to further benefit the well being of their members.
When world leaders shared their vision about zero deaths due to AIDS in 2011, EFA took this to heart as well. We are happy to have zero deaths within our network, thanks to the trainings on treatment compliance, hygiene, nutrition, CD4 monitoring tests, and preventive measures against opportunistic infections and sexually trans- mitted infections (STIs). A new page is now turning for EFA’s Youth Empowerment Network. While the chal- lenges are enormous for young people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), great efforts are in process to help young people find their way.
For me, EFA’s programs have made a great impact and its community of leaders of change is well established. Today our members reach dozens of villages as Technical Assistants, Peer Educators, or as Trainers, as we help free the victims and those still unaware of the consequences of stigma, prejudice, and myths about HIV and AIDS that still persist.
It is a great joy to see that people’s behavior for positive change and social norms in respecting women vis-à-vis their vulnerability to HIV continues to blossom with the hope of a better tomorrow for all.
Sincerely, Alim Ousmane Co-Founder, Country Representative EFA International – Cameroon
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 6 FROM EFA’S YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
THANK YOU! MERCI! USEKO! Hear it from members of EFA’s Youth Empowerment Network in their own words:
Pelehem Térese
Aissatou Sali
Jumbo Albert
(videos courtesy of Laurel Chor, Global Giving)
7 EFA INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION
Education Fights AIDS (EFA) International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was officially incorporated in May 2006 to support African youth infected with or affected by HIV and AIDS. Established by a group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) from Cameroon and their Cameroonian counterparts and collaborators, EFA International has continued the work that was started during their Peace Corps service and has grown to include both RPCVs and other individuals that care deeply about youth and the development of sub-Saharan Africa. EFA International is working towards its mission by empowering young people with the skills, resources, and support they need to live positive and healthy lives.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 8 OUR VALUES: EFA International believes that education, both formal and non-formal, is an essen- tial component in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Knowledge sharing and capacity building mitigate the impact of the virus on individuals, families and communities by better preparing them to respond to the additional challenges caused by the epidemic. EFA International works to provide Africans with the support necessary for them to reach their full potential and become the leaders of tomorrow.
All of EFA International’s interventions are based on a core set of values: • All people deserve the opportunity to succeed.
• HIV status shouldn’t serve as a barrier or obstacle to accessing services.
• Community interventions at the grassroots level are integral to the fight against HIV and AIDS.
OUR APPROACH: The work of EFA International is based on the belief that addressing HIV and AIDS requires a holistic approach that involves medical assistance, and also psychosocial support, economic stability, and leadership development. By working to promote the different aspects of living positively, the entire community is empowered to protect and strengthen its most precious resource: its youth.
Our main goals are as follows: • To improve the psychosocial development, health literacy, professional capacity, and financial autonomy of African youth and families who are affected by HIV and AIDS by: - Providing educational, enterprise, and employment opportunities - Building core leadership and community values - Promoting the value of “living positively” with HIV and AIDS while reducing stigma - Taking a gender-sensitive, or when possible, a gender-transformative approach
• To contribute to the healthy development of African children who are affected by HIV and AIDS by: - Improving access to comprehensive health services, including PMTCT - Developing enterprise and employment opportunities for families and caretakers
• To inform and engage communities around the world about HIV and AIDS in Africa.
EFA International fulfills its mission and goals through activities in three primary areas: Education, Enterprise, and Empowerment.
9 EFA INTERNATIONAL OUR PRESENCE: EFA International is actively engaged in Cameroon, with a regional office in Maroua. EFA has provided technical and financial assistance to over 185 HIV-positive adults and their families in their efforts to establish and organize seven associations throughout Northern Cameroon, with associations in training in three new locales. Through partnerships with the Cameroon Minstry of Health’s ART care sites, the associations connect HIV-positive people to the care that they need.
Explore EFA using Google Maps here.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 10 OUR STAFF
Cameroon Regional Office Alim Ousmanou, Country Representative Alim’s professional background is in tourism and small business development. He has an undergraduate degree in Tourism from the University of N’gaoundéré, Cameroon. In addition to being a founding member of AJEPS, EFA’s first HIV-positive youth group, he has worked as a consultant for ACTEN and a Logistical Aide for CARE International. Alim is committed to the development of his community, country, and colleagues. He leads the EFA International Regional Office in Maroua in strategic programming, fundraising and leadership. Based on the leadership that Alim has shown through his work with EFA, in April 2010 he was chosen by the US Department of State to take part in the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) where he participated in a one-month study tour of the US to better understand and exchange with others on public health policies and practices.
Amada Tchake, Programs and Manager Amada has over 20 years of experience in development work, such as with CARE International. Amada is dedicated to helping disadvantaged communities build capacity and improve their quality of life. He has experience managing income generation activities, health and wellness programs, women’s groups, water/sanitation, and financial and personnel management. Amada joined EFA International to continue and expand his efforts to mobilize and empower youth in dis- tress. His work involves training youth members on various health topics such as generalities of HIV and the importance of living positively, and mentoring groups as they lead their own community interventions and activities.
Pierre Dikoua, Operations Manager Pierre is a registered accountant who has been providing financial assistance to local organizations in Cameroon for over fifteen years, both through private consultancies and within different firms. Pierre first began assisting EFA Cam- eroon in 2008, when he conducted our first external audit. Following audit results, Pierre voluntarily worked with our regional office staff to help them in implementing some of the critical audit results in order to improve financial man- agement and general operations of the regional office. After several years of support, Pierre joined the EFA Cameroon as our Operations Manager.
Madame Gambo, Administrative Assistant Sadja Ousmanou née Gambo attended primary and secondary school in Mokolo and Maroua, receiving a CEP Certificate in Primary Education from 1997 to 2003. She then pursued courses in Business Accounting at CETIC Maroua from 2003 to 2006 and courses in computers and new communication technologies with the Maroua GIC INFO MIB from May 2006 to December 2007. She completed an internship with Tsanaga Tours in December 2007 and January 2008. She began interning with EFA International in February 2008, and has been employed full time in the regional office since January 2010.
Gena Barnabee, Technical Advisor Gena currently serves in the Peace Corps as a Health NGO Development volunteer in Maroua, Cameroon. She is also a student in the Peace Corps Masters International program at the University of Washington, where she is pursuing a Master in Public Administration concentrated in NGO Development, Program Development and Monitoring and Evalua- tion. As a Technical Advisor for EFA International, she hopes to increase the capacity of EFA, its associations, and their members to improve the lives of those infected with or affected by HIV and to educate communities about HIV and other important health issues. Gena received her Bachelor in Journalism Arts from the University of Georgia and has over five years of experience working in both the business and non-profit sectors.
11 EFA INTERNATIONAL OUR STAFF [continued]
Technical Assistants
Years with Name Village of Origin Profile EFA (as TA)
Education: Eighth grade level
Selected trainings & experience: Peer education, PMUC commercial agent, community 7 years Aissatou Sali Yagoua campaigner, information center manager, income generation activity management, ARV adher- (3 years) ence and management, PMTCT, HIV and human rights
Languages spoken: Fulfuldé, French
Education: Eleventh grade level, Spanish studies
Daidouwé 6 years Selected trainings & experience: Peer éducation, HIV counseling, municipal library skills, Bogo and Yagoua Marceline (1 years) community volunteering
Languages spoken: Fulfuldé, French, Toupouri
Education: Fourth grade level
Djouleya Selected trainings & experience: Peer education, advocacy for PLWHA, ARV adhérence, human Bogo 1 year Farikou rights, project management
Languages spoken: Fulfuldé, French
Education: Fifth grade level
Selected trainings & experience: Counseling and home-based care for PLWHA, AIDS advocacy, Doudou Yaya Moutourwa 7 years accompanying ARV patients, community campaigning, community volunteer
Languages spoken: Guiziga, Fulfuldé, French
Education: Eleventh grade level, German studies
Selected trainings & experience: Peer Education, counselor for ARV treatment adherence, Hamadou 7 years Maroua PMTCT, reproductive health, behavior change communications, counseling for PLWHA, human Hassan (4 years) rights and M&E for PLWHA, capacity building for municipal teams against HIV, painting, welding
Languages spoken: French, Fulfuldé, Guiziga
Education: Ninth grade level
Mairamou 5 years Selected trainings & experience: Peer education, primary school teaching, HIV counseling, Tokombéré Hamandjouma (3 years) community nutrition, behavior change communications
Languages spoken: French, Fulfuldé, Guiziga
Education: Seventh grade level
Pehlem Selected trainings & experience: Peer education, Peace Corps Life skills for HIV and develop- Mokolo 4 years Thérèse ment, behavior change communications, community health volunteer, computer skills
Languages spoken: Fulfuldé, French, Mafa
Education: Seventh grade level
Soureya Selected trainings & experience: Peer éducation, advocacy for PLWHA, ARV adhérence, human Alhadi Kousseri 3 years rights, project management, monitoring and évaluation, computer and administrative skills Oumarou (Word, Excel, internet, basic accounting)
Languages spoken: Fulfuldé, French , Arabe Choa
Education: Ninth grade level 5 years Yaya Dairou Pété Selected trainings & experience: Commercial agent and maintentence agent for Orange mobile (1 year) Languages spoken: Fulfuldé, French
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 12 EFA’S PROGRAMS
Building capacity and professional skills for HIV-affected youth associations Expanding HIV peer education Improving gender equality Reaching out to communities
Income generation activities Technical Assistants program
Youth Empowerment Network & Coordination Committee
Partnership in Health: MINSANTE, Circle of Love
13 EFA INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
In 2011, EFA International made an impact by improving the knowledge and abilities of youth to prevent and mitigate the effects of HIV in Northern Cameroon, with results achieved in the following areas:
Building Capacity and Professional Skills for HIV-affected Youth Associations
In 2011, EFA provided ongoing support to nine HIV-positive youth associations through need-based, demand-driven professional skills and capacity building trainings in areas such as: organizational development; financial management; recordkeeping; advocacy and community mobilization. EFA provided support to three new groups in training (Tokembere, Moutourwa, and Bogo) on how to: obtain a legal group status in Cameroon, establish an executive board, and open a bank account. 135 active members were supported in organizational development and financial management, as well as basic health education.
EFA Technical Assistants and Staff conducted trainings to associations on the following themes:
• Leadership and Organization-building
• Techniques for creating and managing an association
• Behavior Change Communication
• Development goals
• Report Writing
• Financial management of income-generation activities
• Techniques for field visits, monitoring and evaluation
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 14 EFA PEER EDUCATORS EFA PEER EDUCATORS [continued] The following HIV-Positive Youth Associations were supported by EFA International in 2011:
Date Established / Members Number of Peer Association Translation of Association Name Location Legal Status (Active/Total) Educators / TAs
Association des Jeunes Engagés Pour la Promo- 2005 / March 28, AJEPS tion de la Santé à Maroua/ Association of Youth Maroua I 18/22 13/6 2005 Committed to Health Promotion in Maroua
Association Pour la Bien-être et la Promotion de ABEPSA la Santé / Association for the Promotion of Health 2006 /Feb 7, 2008 Maroua II 14/19 8/2 and Well Being
Association des Jeunes Engagés Pour la Promo- 2006 / March 2, AJEPS-MO tion de la Santé à Mokolo / Association of Youth Mokolo 15/28 7/0 2009 Commited to Health Promotion in Mokolo
Association Wallin ndé de Amchidé / Association 2008 / March 5, Amchidé / AWALLA 11/11 5/0 for Support and Assistance in Amchidé 2008 Kolofata
Association des Sympatisants du Secteur Godola 2008 / March 6, Godola & ASSYSGOD et Dogba / Association of Those Concerned in the 19/28 8/1 2008 Dogba Sector of Godola and Dogba
Association des Jeunes Unis pour la Promotion AJUPS de la Santé / Association of Youth United for 2009 Yagoua 14/19 3/0 Health Promotion
Association des Jeunes Unis pour le Bien être AJUBS Social / Association of Youth United for the Social 2010 / March 14, 2010 Kousseri 20/28 11/0s Well-being
Association Gloukoum Arlein de Moutourwa / 2010 / Legalization in AGAM Moutourwa 10/16 3/0 Association “Evolving Together” of Moutourwa course
Association des Jeunes Engagés Pour la Promotion de la Santé à Tokombéré/ Associa- 2011 / Legalization in AJEPS-TOK Tokombéré 14/14 0/0 tion of Youth Committed to Health Promotion in course Tokombéré
Pete In training In training Pete
17 EFA INTERNATIONAL Expanding HIV Peer Education
2011 was EFA International’s third successful year implementing its Peer Education program:
• 57 HIV-positive youth trained in comprehensive HIV prevention education, with 38 successfully completing the program. The Peer Education program has dual objectives: increasing individual HIV knowledge and increasing community HIV knowledge.
• 15 group members completed an intense, accelerated training on health issues linked to HIV / AIDS Education and Peer educa- tion, with 13 succeeding to become new peer educators.
• 50 peer educators received refresher trainings on: - Gender violence - World AIDS Day themes: “Zero New Infections, Zero discrimination, and Zero AIDS deaths”
To increase access and ensure the sustainability of HIV prevention peer education, EFA’s four technical assistants (TAs) under- went a training of trainers to put more attention on leadership and communication skills within the peer education program, with special emphasis on the technical implementation of associations, capacity building, organizational development, behavior change communication, data collection, and monitoring and evaluation of technical programs.
Partners in Peer Education:
Continued support from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) With the help of Peace Corps Volunteer technical advisor Gena Barnabee, the Cameroon Regional Office secured an additional $3,000 to fund its Peer Education trainings in 2011. PEPFAR’s Volunteer Activities Support and Training (VAST) program is a funding resource for small-scale HIV/AIDS projects initiated by communities and organizations partnered with Peace Corps Volunteers. The grant reduced transport costs for participating trainees, and allowed more HIV-affected young people to be trained in HIV-prevention education and communication.
GLOBAL GIVING We raised $3,878 in 2011 through Global Giving for our project: Providing HIV services to 1,000 Cameroonian youth.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 18 Improving Gender Equality
A partnership between TrustAfrica and EFA Interna- tional marked EFA’s largest effort to date in addressing sexual and gender-based violence and gender inequality through a project to integrate these issues into EFA International’s existing peer education programming for HIV-positive youth. Funded by TrustAfrica in October 2010 and continuing into 2011, this project:
• Educated 50 EFA Peer Educators on the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, gender equity and methods of behavior change communication.
• Educated than 8,000 people in ten communities in the Far North of Cameroon on sexual and gender-based violence prevention and gender equity promotion.
“The Trust Africa project helped me a lot …thanks to the training I am comfortable when my husband does cooking and housework. I learned techniques to convince my partner that the woman has rights too, he finally agreed and we live happily. Many families have changed after the sensitization. With us the Fulani, it can be so hard to practice gender equality. Many of our girls are raped, but have nowhere to report it. After one community outreach session, a girl who came to ask me where can she go to report a rape. Thanks to the training, I have had the courage and information to direct her towards a technical partner of EFA International [with the appropriate resources and recourse mechanisms]… I loved the TrustAfrica program as led by EFA’s peer educators because it changed my life and the lives of many women. My hope is that if we could have additional trainings on gender equality, it could benefit thousands of girls and women of Maroua.”
- Soureya Oumarou, President of Maroua ABEPSA
“ Gender, violence, and equality are not the easiest topics to discuss in Cameroon, and being new EFA and to the country, it was even more challenging. However, the rewards of this project far outweigh any personal challenges. I know that for most of our Peer Educators this was the first time they had ever talked openly about SGB-V and equality. Many women didn’t consider themselves equal; many thought that men were in fact born more intelligent and therefore had more rights and should be given more opportunities. We discussed ideas about gender roles and decision-making in the household, about communication between partners, and about how violence fuels the HIV epidemic. Each Peer Educator talked about strate- gies that they could implement in their own household to promote equality and about strategies that they could employ as peer educators in promoting SGB-V preve knowledge they gained in the training that they educated more than 8,000 community members in just one month—which was 3,000 more than projected!”
- Gena Barnabee, Technical Advisor
19 EFA INTERNATIONAL Reaching out to communities
Once the EFA-supported Peer Educators are armed with comprehensive HIV prevention knowledge and effec- tive communication skills, they conduct outreach sessions to increase HIV and health knowledge, to counsel youth who may engage in risky sexual behaviours, and to combat HIV-related stigma. In 2011, EFA’s Peer Educators reached 18,600 men, women and young people in 129 community education sessions throughout the Far North and North region, including the following themes:
• Basic sexual and reproductive health, including the modes of HIV transmission
• HIV prevention methods, including how to use a condom and PMTCT
• The importance of HIV screening, and understanding “Pre-test and post -test counseling”
• Gender, Power, and Violence in collaboration with TrustAfrica
• The role of taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), CD4-count testing and the usefulness of associations for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA)
• Home visits for EFA network members to reduce interfamilial stigma; to promote good nutrition, PMTCT, and ARV adherence; and to support PLWHA and their caregivers.
• Personal testimonials about living with HIV to high school students in Hina, Far North province in collabo- ration with Peace Corps / Hina
• Mass communication campaigns in collaboration with Peace Corps, VAST / PEPFAR, and the Common- wealth of Adoumri
• World AIDS Day messages, including “Zero deaths, Zero new infections, and Zero discrimination” in collaboration with the EFA Youth Empowerment Network
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 20 ENTERPRISE
Income Generating Activities “Today our association is almost independent ... at the end of each With continued support and capacity building from EFA International, month, we receive some profits to all nine associations in the Youth Empowerment Network continued support our medical care, rent, and existing or initiated new income generating activities (IGAs) in 2011. compensation for group leaders who Seven of these associations are engaged in activities that involve all of manage our finances. The association their members in work and management. continues to evolve. All our members EFA supports associations to develop individual and collective IGAs that unanimously recognize the impact allow these groups to accumulate savings for routine and emergency today, the value of AJEPS in our lives, medical visits. The UNDP Grassroots Poverty Reduction Sub-Program our children’s lives, and even families’ has supported collective IGAs for two EFA-supported HIV-positive youth lives. From near or far, AJEPS members associations in the communities of Amchidé and Godola. Through this are gradually taking their destiny in their partnership, EFA builds the technical and organizational capacity of its own hands ... the association counts beneficiary associations so that they are able to design, implement, over 15 members who have found work and manage large-scale income generation projects. EFA also serves in the community. We are respected, and as the monitoring agent for all UNDP grants, assisting UNDP regional we are heard, which gives us great pride. staff in supporting grant beneficiaries in the region. Associations have been successful in managing the activities themselves, providing – Pelehem Terese, Technical Assistant, employment opportunities to individual association members and Peer Educator Trainer, AJEPS member a sustainable revenue source to fund association-specific activities without external assistance.
21 EFA INTERNATIONAL In 2011, the following EFA-supported youth associations conducted IGAs, with the assistance of additional partnerships:
Association Activity Additional PARTNERS
Selling potable water; the storage and resale of millet GTR AJEPS UPEC Assets: A fully equipped office, 10 pushcarts, 1 freezer, 3 coolers BERAC
AGAJAS ABEPSA Storage and resale of sorgho, loaning pushcarts. BERAC ENTERPRISE CPDV
Mokolo Catholic Mission AJEPS-MO Sheep raising, chicken farming. Mokolo District Hospital Peace Corps
Cultivation of red millet, tomatoes, onions. Cattle raising. Godola Integrated Health Center ASSYSGOD Asset: grain mill. UNDP/SPRPB
Storage and sale of beans. Leasing mill for community to grind grains. Amchidé Integrated Health Center AWALLA Opportunities for individual members’ income-generation activities. Kolofata District Hospital Assets: 104 50kg bags of beans, a hybrid mill, 400 square meters of land. PLAN Cameroon UNDP/SPRPB
Code Caritas AJUPS Peanut cultivation Social Affairs Yagoua District Hospital
Kousseri Hospital AJUBS Selling bean doughnuts UPEC
EFA, Moutourwa Catholic Mission, AGAM Millet and sorgho cultivation Moutourwa Hospital
AJEPS-TOK In development EFA
Pete In development EFA
Highlights:
AJEPS-MO launched porcine husbandry project at the start of 2011, but after a swine flu outbreak, their 20 pigs were killed by local authorities. With tenacity and courage, AJEPS-MO members raised 252,000 cfa (~ $450) to start anew, this time with sheep. At the end of 2011, they had 8 sheep and have almost made a return on their investment.
AGAM had a very successful harvest and anticipates a 400% return on their investment after selling their sorgho.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 22 Technical Assistants Program
In 2011, EFA International continued to implement its HIV-positive peer mentoring, or Technical Assistants (TA) Program, to assist with the creation of new associations of HIV-positive youth in northern Cameroon.
Four exceptional members of the HIV-positive youth network were selected to serve as Technical Assistants to provide continued assistance to the new associations in the communities of Kousseri, Mourtourwa, and Yagoua and to the creation of new associa- tions in Tokombéré and Bogo.
Rather than EFA staff providing capacity-building training to new associations, each new association is assigned an existing network member as his or her peer mentor. These mentors provide all direct services to a new association until association members are ready to join the youth empowerment network themselves. Once admitted to the network, association members benefit from programs such as the peer education program, where they are then sent out into new communities to educate other youth and ultimately set the stage for the creation of new associations, particularly in rural areas.
This model has continued to be successful in providing effective assistance to youth groups, to build leadership, and to provide income for the TAs.
23 EFA INTERNATIONAL EMPOWERMENT
Youth Empowerment Network & Coordination Committee
EFA’s Youth Empowerment Network (YEN) connects HIV-affected youth and families throughout the Far North of Cameroon to promote knowledge sharing and leadership and building the overall organizational and managerial capacity of participating associations. A grassroots, locally-led mechanism functioning since 2007, it is led by a Coordination Committee composed of 16 elected members representing every association that EFA supports, and is mentored by the EFA Regional Office, Maroua.
In 2011, the Youth Empowerment Network helped to strengthen and/or support:
• The legal recognition of youth organizations with the administration, including AJUBS in Kousseri, AJUPS in Yagoua, AGAM in Moutourwa, AJESTOK in Tokombéré, all of whom have officially filed their application for legal status, and some of whom have received certificates indicating their legal status.
• PLWHA association members’ involvement (AJEPS, ABEPSA ASSYSGOD, AWALLA, AJESPS-MO, and AJUBS) with the MOH Regional Technical Group and their Public Health Delegation as community health agents in a regional anti-malaria campaign.
• Establishing an independent multimedia center to promote free access to computers and the internet.
• Small job opportunities in EFA and in the community to network members. In 2011, 15 members had paid work and 12 launched their own business, with others directly involved in associations’ income-generation activities.
• Defending the rights and interests for abused associations members, or those expressing a real need and of members by connecting them to contacts within the regional Legal and Social Affairs department or other regional NGOs
• The expansion of HIV-affected youth associations. To date 09 Association are underway and 02 are being created.
• Coordination Committee: Four quarterly meetings with 16 elected members of existing associations to share best practices and develop leadership skills. To encourage the participation, sustainability and autonomy of the Youth Empowerment Network, this democratically run committee further promotes youth leadership and organizational skills.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 24 In their own words: Multimedia Resource Center
In 2011, we built a small room, which houses our two computers. Members and their families can use these computers, which have internet access, at their convenience. In 2012, we plan on holding computer-skills training workshops in areas such as Computer Basics, Word, Excel, and Internet, Communication and Social Media. In the long-term we hope that will help HIV+ youth and their families to improve the condition of their lives and use their skills to become educated leaders dedicated to preventing HIV and AIDS, reducing HIV and AIDS related stigma and discrimination, and advocating for rights and access to care for HIV+ individuals in their communities and around the world.
The center will help all EFA’s youth empowerment network to gain skills in typing and data entry, writing e-mails, reporting, and sharing information and experiences with our donors and with other associations. Our children will be welcomed into the center which has the utmost significance because it could help them to have good grades in computer science in their schools. All this touches our hearts, and we are thankful to Gena and EFA who had this innovative idea and to those who helped establish this center to help us with our children to be as like the others in this society where we are generally marginalized.
- Aissatou Sali, President of Maroua AJEPS
25 EFA INTERNATIONAL Partnerships in Health
Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon
In July 2011, EFA better formalized its working relationship with the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon in order to strengthen partnerships in communities that have EFA-supported HIV-affected groups. The partnership builds upon the successful health center partnerships in Amchidé and Godola, where their integrated health centers had signed formal partnerships with EFA International in 2010.
EFA provides technical and financial assistance to the HIV-positive youth associations, including psychosocial services for members and resources for community HIV education campaigns. In return, the health centers provide: meeting space for all group meetings; qualified staff as technical advisors to advise on group operations; and short-term employment opportunities to trained members for vaccination campaigns and other seasonal activities.
The Kousseri Hospital, the Mokolo District Hospital, and the Moutourwa District Hospital have begun working together with EFA-supported groups. AJEPS-MO noted that their strong relationship with the head doctor at the Mokolo District Hospital greatly facilitated their ability to effectively conduct community outreach campaigns on HIV prevention. The integrated health centers of Amchidé and the Kolofata District Hospital work together with the peer educators in their respective communities to conduct community health campaigns on HIV and AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children, opportunistic infection prevention, and the distribution of insecticide-treated anti-malaria bednets. This approach actually led EFA’s peer educators to identify additional PLWHA who joined AWALLA, the local youth support group. This community connection has proved to be very helpful for the health facility to stay connected to their ARV patients and reduce the number that are “lost to follow up”. In addition, EFA’s peer educators have helped identify orphans and vulnerable children and connect them to social services.
EFA anticipates further strengthening this partnership with health facilities in 2012.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 26 Circle of Love
The Circle of Love Program was introduced in 2010 in response to HIV-positive youth support group members’ need to cover additional medical expenses, specifically the costs of CD4 tests and other diagnostic tests required for them to access government-funded AIDS treatment. In total, 121 medical exams for 94 women and 27 men were supported through the Circle of Love program in 2011. A total of approximately 423,600 cfa (~$890) helped youth association members with transportation and testing expenses. Associations also made a contribution to make both testing and transport completely free for association members.
In the spring of 2011, EFA and its member associations were informed that medical procurement issues in the capital would have a direct effect on the availability of medical services at all public health facilities in their communities. Though the We raised $1,020 in 2011 through stock of treatment was secured, many of the reagents necessary to conduct HIV Global Giving for our project: treatment monitoring tests were unavailable for several months. HIV treatment monitoring is critical to the long-term health of PLHIV. As the HIV virus is able Circle of Love – Medical Tests to mutate over time and develop immunity to certain types of treatment, it is for HIV+ Cameroonians imperative for people living with HIV to routinely monitor the effectiveness of their current treatment regimen. These monitoring tests allow doctors to assess view website here > whether the treatment is working or not and to switch patients to more effective regimes in cases of treatment failure or drug resistance.
The absence of these reagents for many months within public facilities posed a big problem for our members. Using their knowledge of its importance and their skills in advocacy, members of the Coordination Committee conducted an advocacy session to some of the private facilities in their region to negotiate access for HIV treatment monitoring services for EFA members. After this campaign, the youth network members were able to secure HIV monitoring tests, covered by Circle of Love funds, at a private hospital in Moutourwa at a subsidized cost to members until the stock of reagents was replenished within public facilities.
27 EFA INTERNATIONAL EFA is grateful to the many partners and collaborators that have made our work a success!
Regional Technical Group (Groupe Technique Régional - GTR)
The Diocesan Development Committee (CDD)
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 28 IN THE NEWS
Tulane University features alumnus and EFA Co-founder Andrew Koleros
Tulane University’s spring/summer 2011 issue of Global Health magazine has featured its alum, EFA co-founder Andrew Koleros (Tulane 2005), for his work with EFA International.
“We want our youth network to help members become responsible adults who can reduce stigma in their communities and work towards social change,” says Koleros. “We believe community interventions at the grassroots level are integral to the fight against HIV/AIDS.”
Click here to read the full article >
Pingree School features alumnus and EFA Co-founder Rachel Hoy Deussom
“..EFA shares a Cameroonian proverb: “Rain does not fall on one roof alone” ..
‘To me it serves as a reminder that we are all connected. It is not just one person or family that will need to seek protection from an approaching storm, but the entire community. You can not live in isolation, so you need to work together. At the same time, rain is a benediction, and communal efforts benefit everyone, too. As the world gets smaller with globalization, I find this to be even more true. It is a privilege to volunteer. It’s a valuable perspective that I could not have imagined if I tried. I only hope that I have contributed as much as I have gained.’ “
Click here to read the full article >
29 EFA INTERNATIONAL DONORS AND SUPPORTERS
EFA would like to thank the following donors for their generous contributions in 2011, without whom these achievements would not be possible:
Angels ($1,000+) Advocates ($100-$199) Friends ($50-$99) Lenita Jordan Carstens Madelyn Bagby Syreeta Barrett Congressional Church of Weston Pamela Barnabee Lillian Chor Andrew Koleros Gloria Chor Davis Coates Steven Kramer Kristin Costa Christene DeJong Roger “Charly Templar” Mbouti Robert Costello Jacob Estes Lauren Cramer Lapo Feri Rachel Hoy Deussom Ping Fu Djaouros* ($200 - $999) Anthony Dolan Matthew & Rebekah Gardiner Jacob Berman Richard DuBois Lee Gervais Caitlyn Bradburn Helen Featherston Dawn Greil Frederick Brown Stephen Hoy Alethea Kara Stephen & Victoria Cenci Whitney Isenhower Nao Kobayashi Dr. Richard Coss Kristin Kirkwood Peter Koleros Kelly Costello Kathleen Koleros Gene Locken Janis Dickens Maria Matute-Bianchi David Magee Chris Featherston Matthew Mitchell Sarah Mason Dana Greil Warren & Janet Mitchell Deborah Merritt Erin & Mike Nilon Jan Primas John Miall James & Leslie Nilon Jill Thornton Daniel Parmentelot Kathleen McKelvey Kelly VanBreemen Melissa Schwab Kathryn & Phillip McKissick Paul Sheldon Jeremy Salome Nicole Sheldon – Desjardins Methodist Church of Harvard – Epworth Marilyn Short Bridget Winston Dr. Steven Washburn Cameron Webb Susan Wrasmann Amanda Zets
* In Northern Cameroon, traditional village chiefs are called Djaouros. It is also a title of respect for an important person.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 30 DONORS AND SUPPORTERS [continued]
Kuwait, April 2011 –EFA’s annual benefit event organized by talented DJ and board member Roger “Charly Templar” Mbouti was a smashing success. Over 50 friends came out to watch live performances and dance in support of the work of EFA International in Cameroon.
The event was sponsored by W, White Noise, Kuwait Music, and RTC Kuwait and raised over $3,000!
A “grand merci” to additional Peace Corps Volunteers who provided field support to associations:
- Zach Connelly, Small Enterprise Development PCV, Mokolo (income generating activity education/skills with AJEPS Mokolo)
- Lynne Wilkie, SED PCV, Maroua (Income generating activities with ABEPSA and IT training at the multimedia resource center)
.. and those who worked with EFA-supported Peer Educators to extend HIV prevention education to new communities:
- Cheryl Finnell. Health Education PCV, Hina
- Amy Mangieri, Health Education PCV, Adoumri (North region)
Gratitude is due to Caitlyn Bradburn for supporting Circle of Love, and to Blaise Djilo. Huge thanks to Jill Thornton for proofing this report. Finally, a big thank you to Melissa Bilo Schwab for formatting this report.
To those unnamed who share EFA’s message and believe in our cause, we thank you for your continued support.
Many thanks to all for their contributions in 2011!
31 EFA INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR-TO-DATE ENDING DECEMBER 31,2010 AND 2011
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 32 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AT DECEMBER 31, 2010 AND 2011
33 EFA INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW
FOR THE YEAR-TO-DATE ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2010 AND 2011
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 34 STATEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR-TO-DATE ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2010 AND 2011
35 EFA INTERNATIONAL NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010 AND 2011
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT POLICIES
a. Operations EFA International is a not-for-profit public health organization that promotes the successful future of African children, youth, and families affected by HIV and AIDS through education, enterprise, and empowerment.
b. Basis of Accounting
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting and are presented in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements No. 117, Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organizations. Under SFAS 117, EFA is required to report information regarding its financial position and activities according to three classes of net assets: unrestricted net assets, temporarily restricted net assets, and permanently restricted net assets.
c. Net Assets Accounting EFA International reports grants and gifts as restricted support if they are received with donor stipulations that limit the use of donated assets. When a donor restriction expires, that is, when a stipulated time restric- tion ends or purpose restriction is accomplished, temporarily restricted net assets are reclassified to unre- stricted net assets and reported in the statement of activities as net assets released from restrictions. Grants and donations of fixed assets are recorded as unrestricted support, unless explicit donor stipulations specify how those assets must be used.
d. Property and Equipment EFA International owned no property in 2011. Equipment is stated at cost or, if donated, at the approximate fair market value at the date of donation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of related assets.
e. Fiscal Year The fiscal year ends on December 31.
f. Definition of Expense Categories All expenses related to operations (office rent and utilities, communications, meeting expenses, website, etc) are listed as “Management and General.” Any expenses related to fundraising and developments are listed under “Fundraising,” rather than “Management and General.” All expenses related to program services, included those provided to existing and potential member groups and those provided to service project participants, are listed under “Program Services”, as are all regional programmatic staffing expenses.
INVESTMENTS EFA International currently holds no investments.
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