Over 1,000 Families Find Hope Amidst The AIDS Pandemic In Rwanda And Uganda

Approximately 1,050 families affected
by HIV and AIDS in Rwanda and Uganda are on their way to becoming
economically self-sufficient through Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB)
International's Village Model Program. A recent analysis made for World
AIDS Day showed that FXB raised almost $1.75 million in 2006, which will
support 13 villages in Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi.



"FXB's vision lies in our belief that supporting communities to achieve
self-reliance is the best way to lift people out of poverty and help them
regain their dignity and self-esteem," says CEO Bilge Ogun Bassani.



More than 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS worldwide,
with over 80% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to UNAIDS, Uganda
has an estimated one million children orphaned by AIDS; Rwanda has
approximately 210,000. In the past, relatives or community members cared
for orphaned children. However, the AIDS epidemic has ripped apart this
traditional safety net, leaving many children abandoned and without
support.



Based on 17 years of international field work, FXB International has
developed a low-cost, community-based Village Model Program that has proved
successful in helping families and communities respond to the effects of
HIV and AIDS, and regain greater economic stability. The Program has a high
success rate -- 85 % of its beneficiary families have managed to become
self- sufficient. In addition, on average it raises families' income from
under $1 to US$4 a day, which is a remarkable achievement. Twelve villages
have been started so far this year in Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi with
plans underway for one more to begin in Rwanda by the end of 2006.



FXB's innovative Village Model Program was referred in UNAIDS' "Report
on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic 2002," as a best solution to support AIDS
orphans. The Program was developed through participatory discussions with
beneficiaries and adapted to the evolving context of HIV/AIDS programming.
It is implemented by locally-recruited staff members, and provides a basic
package of services to families, including HIV prevention, testing and
counseling; educational and vocational training; medical and nutritional
support; and income generating activities. FXB's Village Model Program
helps families become increasingly self-sufficient and capable of managing
their own medical and schooling costs over a period of 3 years. The total
budget for the FXB Village Model Program for the 3 years is US$150,000.



Because of the low overhead costs associated with the Program, FXB is
seeking funds to replicate its village model program in other countries
affected by the AIDS pandemic. Within the next 3 years, FXB plans to create
20 new village models in Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Thailand, India, and
China, enabling 1,600 families to become economically self-sufficient and
providing services to 8,000 children affected by HIV and AIDS.



In 1989, Countess Albina du Boisrouvray, a successful business woman,
founded FXB, an international non-governmental organization, after the
tragic death of her rescue-pilot son, Francois-Xavier, in a helicopter
accident in Mali. Through the creation of FXB, Albina sought to carry on
the compassion and generosity that guided Francois-Xavier's life.
Children's rights and the inextricable link between health and human rights
lie at the heart of FXB's mission and guide all of its programs. With these
values as a basis, Albina has used her social entrepreneurial skills to
promote FXB's fight against poverty and the spread of HIV. She has created
programs, such as the pioneering FXB Village Model, to empower the world's
AIDS orphans and vulnerable children to lead productive lives.


Francois-Xavier Bagnoud International

fxb