News and Events

Albuquerque Circle of Hope Launched

A group of 30 friends, colleagues and families came together in August 2010 to launch the Albuquerque Circle of Hope to help support our educational fund for children orphaned by AIDS in Kenya. Dr. Kay Felkins, Vice President of ACOHF, made a presentation about the foundation and provided updates on current educational programs and critical needs. All the donations from this event will buy uniforms and pay school fees for secondary school students from the Good Samaritan Children’s Home in the Mathare slums around Nairobi, Kenya.

The coordinators for the Albuquerque Circle of Hope are Janet Strong and the Wickstrom family. We thank them for their commitment to helping educate these orphans and giving youth an opportunity to raise themselves out of poverty and make a better future. They will continue to work with us to support our Orphans Education Fund and coordinate efforts in Albuquerque.
We are establishing Africa Circle of Hope support groups in other states including Wisconsin and Arkansas. If you are interested in creating a Circle of Hope in your community contact Dr. Felkins at pkf@africacircleofhope.org.

New Research on HIV and AIDS Public Health Campaigns in Kenya

ACOHF Board Vice President, Dr. Kay Felkins, was awarded a research leave from September through November 2010 to study HIV and AIDS public health communication campaigns in Kenya. Felkins is a professor in the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago. She interviewed senior executives in the Kenya National AIDS Control Council as well as local and regional directors in other AIDS education and outreach organizations and programs.

Felkins also began working with a group of talented young musicians, poets, actors and artists who have been active in AIDS education performances. One of the members of this group is Pepe Haze, who plays a central role in an MTV award-winning television drama series, Shuga, about the lives of a group of students living in Nairobi and the dangers of HIV and AIDS. Another of these dynamic professionals is Kennet B, a popular spoken-word poet who writes and performs powerful stories about HIV and AIDS to educate young people. This artistic team provides valuable insight and understanding of the impact of HIV and AIDS in Kenya and the language and perspectives of youth in relation to AIDS.

The results of this research can help to improve the effectiveness of national, regional and local HIV and AIDS campaigns to engage youth in Kenya.

Thiiri Center Concert Series Spotlights Youth Talent

On Oct. 30, 2010, the Thiiri Center for Culture, Music and Community Development in Meru hosted the first of an ongoing series of concerts. This series showcases the talents of local young people in music, poetry, dance and drama. Area students, parents and community members filled the auditorium at Thiiri Center to enjoy a Saturday afternoon program that included singers, poets, dancers, acrobats, musical rap groups and a high school band. This initial concert also featured several professional performers from Nairobi including the Drum Café, Kennet B and the Mathare Acrobats. ACOHF was a major sponsor of the first concert working with Rev. Marilyn Makandi Brenchly, ACOHF Board Member in Meru.

Thiiri Center is a strong partner with ACOHF and a platform for some of our most successful programs for young people. Local artists come together at Thiiri Center for music lessons, practice sessions and creative dialogue. The concert series will continue through 2011.