"In loving memory of Nombuso, without whom I doubt there would be an Afri-Can.  You first showed me AIDS and broke my heart."

&

"For my young son's first family."

-Janet Saunders

Looking back, Afri-Can was inevitable.  It was simply waiting for the right time and the right people to become a reality.

As a child I was fascinated by Africa and her people.  I idolized Dr. Albert Schweitzer.  Yet even though time has a way of interfering with the mightiest of plans, I was uniquely priviledged to find myself in my beloved Africa not once, but twice, in midlife.  There I fell in love with my gorgeous ebony son, orphaned no doubt by the impact of AIDS on his first family.  I am eternally grateful to them.  I wish that somehow they might know deep within their hearts, wherever they are in this world, or the next, that after a long and painful struggle, he is well and happy with me.  I could never repay you, Julia, for what you have done for us.

However, it became necessary to return home to Canada.  My alarm was all consuming when shortly after arriving back here, I heard about a local high school where a survey revealed that students had many misconceptions about the transmission of HIV.  This news, coupled with the sights and sounds of lives breaking apart due to AIDS in Africa, became the catalyst with which Afri-Can was formulated.  It was so clear to me that Afri-Can needed to simply present the facts to anyone who would listen, first here at home in Canada.  In Africa, we would begin  by supporting those basic, but vital grassroots groups who would eventually come to us for help.  Later we would develop our own assistive programs there through groups already linked to those on the ground.  In general, Afri-Can would help in any feasbile way, those whose lives have been shattered by AIDS.

As the process developed and interest grew, Afri-Can AIDS Foundation emerged now led by an incredible group of like-minded professionals.  We are committed to going to the people to ask them what they need us to do.  We are profoundly grateful to those who immediately heard the cries of the victims and then acted in such a tangible way so as to elevate Afri-Can from paper to reality.  You too can help us respond to those who struggle every moment of every day, just to survive.  Please join in this fight.

What would you do to save a life?

Please take the time to read our Mission and Vision.