Who Are We?
Africa Hospice Initiative (AHI), a component fund of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, is a group of friends and colleagues with many years of experience in nonprofit management and fundraising; in hospice management and finance; in organizational development; in corporate giving; and in health care in sub-Saharan Africa who have joined together to increase access to hospice and palliative care services in Africa (http://islandhospice.org ). For 2013, AHI will extend its work in Zimbabwe to include continued partnership with Island Hospice Service, as well as the network of other hospices working with Island Hospice Service to expand palliative care in Zimbabwe.
AHI Mission Statement: AHI assists providers of palliative care in Africa to grow and develop their donor base both locally and internationally in order to achieve financial and operational sustainability.
Current Project: AHI has selected Island Hospice (IHS; http://islandhospice.org) in Harare, Zimbabwe as its current project. AHI's support includes technical assistance with identification of new potential donors, relationship-building with existing and new donors, grant writing, partnership collaboration and organizational development to enhance success in both winning grants and executing projects with the goal that IHS achieve financial and operational sustainability.
AHI Advisory Board: The AHI Board is comprised of:
- Cindy Di Sorbo, Ghent, NY
- Phil Di Sorbo, Ghent, NY
- Karen Hamm, Naples, Florida
- Barbara Linell Glaser, Ed.D., Saratoga, NY
- Dr. David Lee, Chadds Ford, PA
- Ann Rowley, Stuyvesant, NY
- David Solomon, New York, NY
- Christine Swann, New York, NY, Chairperson of the Advisory Board
- Molly Wilmarth, Falls Church, VA
- Legal Counsel: Connie Raffa
Good News!
AHI Surpasses 1.1 Million Dollars in Grants Secured
We are pleased to announce that AHI has surpassed 1.1 million in grants raised for Island Hospice and palliative care in Zimbabwe. We have also expanded our scope in Zimbabwe for 2013.January – March Grants
- NEW: Island Hospice has been awarded a 2013 grant from APCA (African Palliative Care Association) to continue its development as a Palliative Care Center of Excellence. The final dollar amount and scope of work are still being finalized.
- NEW: Island Hospice has received a one year grant of $79,000 from The Oak Foundation to provide palliative care services and training in the high density area of Chitungwiza.
- NEW: Island Hospice has received an award of $15,000 to conduct training and mentorship in Manicaland, as part of a Tearfund UK funded-project.
September - December Grants
- NEW: A $40,000 Legacy Grant has been received from The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund for general operating support for Island Hospice in 2013.
- NEW: Island Hospice has received a one year grant for $110,000 from the Open Society Institute of Southern Africa (OSISA) to conduct palliative care training in high density areas, to advance access to essential palliative medicines, and to address many of the needs of women suffering from cervical cancer
- NEW: $13,000 has been received from Island Hospice’s New York partner for staff support.
- NEW: $10,000 has been awarded from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for youth and orphan activities in the rural Nyadire area, in collaboration with the United Methodist Church of Zimbabwe.
- NEW: $16,000 has been received from the UK Big Lottery as a development grant to prepare a full proposal for the expansion of palliative care in rural Zimbabwe. The Lead Agency for this grant is Help the Hospices in the UK. This follows the acceptance by Big Lottery of the Concept Note submitted earlier in 2012.
- NEW: $19,000 has been received from the Africa Palliative Care Association (APCA) to support capacity-building at three Island Hospice satellite sites: Mutare, Marondera, and Kwe-Kwe.
- NEW: $25,000 has been received from APCA to support several improvements to strengthen Island Hospice as a regional Palliative Care Center of Excellence.
- NEW: Island Hospice has been awarded $90,000 of Global Fund monies to conduct palliative care training with community home-based care teams in Chitungwiza and Harare over 2 years. These funds are coming through the Zimbabwe AIDS Network (ZAN) and HOSPAZ.
- NEW: Island Hospice has received a grant of $19,000 from APCA to address clinical and programmatic improvements to its services, as well as to pursue collaborations within Zimbabwe.
- NEW: Island Hospice has been awarded a service learning project to begin in 2013 with two students from Union College in Schenectady, NY. Island Hospice will receive funding to oversee the student’s 10 week placement for Research and Monitoring/Evaluation to advance palliative care in Zimbabwe.
AHI Current Newsletters
- Current News Letter - To see our current newsletter click here
- To see our June 2012 newsletter click here
- To see our January 2012 newsletter click here
Of Interest
Palliative Care as a Human Right
This link connects to an article that makes the case for palliative care being a global human right. It was authored by leading palliative care champions from South Africa, Australia, and the UK.
Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan: 2011-2015
This link connects to a report published by the Government of Zimbabwe in October, 2011 and signed by President Mugabe. It articulates a national commitment to zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths by 2015. It includes many recommendations for integrating palliative care.
For more information about our work, here is our latest Newsletter: AHI Update