16 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 7, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Helping turn the tide against HIV/AIDS H ello from Halla! We've had a scare. In my last column I mentioned our herd was close to soldiers' fighting and we were moving away from danger. There were a lot of humans seeking safety as well. Suddenly a bullet came from nowhere and nicked the edge of my baby brother's ear. Elephants' ears work like air conditioners, and as we flap our wet ears on a hot day, the blood flowing through the ear's many blood vessels is ects to help orphans and AIDSaffected children, women struggling to survive, grandmothers and the children in their care and networks of people living with HIV and AIDS. SLF funds the Panzi Hospital, which is located in the eastern Congo province of South Kivu, and is a refuge for victims of war, including women with severe internal injuries resulting from heinous acts of sexual violence. More than 3,500 women and girls undergo reconstructive surgery, and a dedicated team of surgeons rebuild women's bodies and provide free medical care. A mobile clinic visits outlying areas to bring more women to hospital. Since November 2007, SLF www.halton.ca has been contributed to some of the hospital's most urgent needs, including HIV counseling, testing and treatment, and post-rape kits to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection. Support includes salaries for some nurses and project staff, gynecological equipment appointments are necessary. If you have a fever or do not feel well, postpone your and a safe blood screening cenvisit to a later date. tre. SLF is also helping to fund Monday, Oakville Trafalgar 1460 Devon Road construction of a City of Joy 8:00 p.m. High School transitional housing complex, Saturday, Halton Regional 1151 Bronte Road 2:00 p.m. cooled, which cools us. My grandmother sprayed my brother's ear with water and mud and it is almost healed now. I am glad to say we moved further east and are totally now out of danger. That got me to thinking about the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has been in the news a lot lately because of escalating violence. The DRC is one of 15 countries where the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) funds projwhere 150 women will recover and be trained to be leaders in their communities. The Panzi Hospital is just one of hundreds of African projects that SLF has supported in the last five years. The foundation receives an average of 100 to 200 proposals per month, and each one is carefully considered. To help make decisions, SLF sends experienced field representatives to visit each organization seeking support, to ensure it is well connected to its community, able to implement programs effectively, and has financial accountability systems in place. Funding ranges from $10,000 to $35,000 (U.S.) and a few projects have received up to $200,000. While the original goal of the Stephen Lewis Foundation was to ease the pain of HIV/AIDS at the grassroots in Africa, after sending more than $24 million to more than 300 community-based projects, it's clear to them that the collective force of the grassroots in Africa is actually helping to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS. That's why SLF is launch- The Regional Municipality of Halton ing the Turning the Tide Campaign to raise more than $100 million over the next five years to meet the growing number of proposals Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day and a time to reflect. $Millions Or More Oakville has now raised $300,000 towards its goal of $1 million within two years, representing an important contribution to the Turning the Tide Campaign. The commitment and generosity of the Oakville community through a wide variety of fundraising activities has been very inspiring, and I hope everyone will make a special contribution on World AIDS Day, and remember to wear red. I hear that Oakville schools are going to have a dress red day. Halla is a 12-year-old female African Savannah Elephant working with $Millions or More Oakville ($MOMO) to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the fight against AIDS in Africa. For more information, visit www.millionormoreslf.ca or phone 905-469-6415. -- Submitted by $Million or More Oakville Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. Thursday, 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. Thursday, 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 3 8:00 p.m. Iroquois Ridge High School St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary Halton Regional 1123 Glenashton Drive 1151 Bronte Road 1160 Rebecca Street Just in time for Christmas... st we LoPrice e th of ear! y Salt Systems and Automatic Cleaners Salt Systems Intellichlor Aquapure School 1330 Montclair Drive High School & Kreepy Kraulys $329 (after $50 mail-in rebate) visit . $1250 Prowler Robotic Cleaner Our line of Traditional & Far Infrared Saunas Remembrance Day: Pausing to Say "Thank You" So many of us take for granted the freedoms we enjoy: the ability to choose our leadership, the freedom to express our opinions, the luxury to live in peace. We have who died defending a future they believed in. debt of gratitude for these exceptional soldiers. 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