Atlanta: Local Group Enlists in Battle Against HIV/AIDS Epidemic

The rampaging HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa is garnering attention from the world -- and help is heading to the continent from several groups and individuals in metro Atlanta.

Two Atlanta women, Shirley A. Harris and Annemarie Eades, co-founded Art AIDS Africa, a nonprofit that sells African art and crafts on the Internet, at private parties and at special events. Proceeds go to support grassroots programs in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world and the greatest number of AIDS-related deaths. Art AIDS Africa joins several groups in the metro area in waging this battle -- including Africa's Children's Fund chaired by Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe, daughter of South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

Eades got the idea for Art AIDS Africa in 2000 while in South Africa with Harris to visit the latter's sister Folami, a health specialist. Folami Harris, who helped co-found Art AIDS Africa, explained how HIV/AIDS had devastated society. The biggest challenge, she said, was to find available funding -- particularly at the grassroots level.

Eades and Harris run the volunteer organization from Harris' home in Avondale Estates. The basement is filled with Masai necklaces, paintings, carvings and elaborate hand-woven baskets. They hope to open a store. The first year, the group raised $50,000. So far this year, Art AIDS Africa has raised $25,000, but expects to meet or exceed last year's efforts.

The money is distributed to grassroots organizations. "A lot of these groups are really under the radar," said Eades, a network engineer. "They don't have the capacity to do fundraising and they may not meet the strict requirements of some larger foundations. What we basically try to do is bridge the gap."

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