Arm In Arm In Africa

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WHO WE ARE

"No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do." - Dorothy Day

Mission Statement

“We come as a family to make a connection, person to person, arm in arm and along the way to share our lives. It is our honor to improve the conditions and create opportunities for changing the cycle of poverty and disease in South Africa.”

We come as a family hoping to make a connection, person to person, Arm In Arm, and along the way to share our lives. Some of what we share are material items - food, clothing, toys for children, and medical supplies.

Our energy embraces the people of Guguletu and Malungeni in South Africa. We reach out in a variety of ways to make a connection, Arm In Arm, one person at a time.

Could you believe a situation where so many people, especially the children, are faced with little or no future? About 25 million Africans are already infected with HIV; most of them will die within eight years. One in three people in Botswana, the world's hardest-hit country, carry the virus. South Africa remains one of the top-10 "most impacted" nations, determined by rate of HIV/AIDS infection and its effect on the country. South Africa also hosted the 2002 International AIDS conference. It is believed that this country will be particularly hard hit in decades to come.

YOU! You care enough to read this information... and understand that it's not about one or two people, but everyone who is involved in the myriad of programs world-wide.

"In answer to the question of what I really want from my American friends, I would say I need two things. One is that I really want to be free to say what I think and feel. The second wish is that I have time to teach you to see the world through my eyes." Reverend Spiwo Xapile

In South Africa, two people stand above the crowd to reach out Arm in Arm with brothers and sisters across the globe. Ms. Zethu Xapile - Managing Director of Michells Plain Medical Centre and J.L. Zwane Center Rev. Spiwo Xapile - Senior Pastor of the J. L. Zwane Memorial Church Each has journeyed with those who traveled from Minnesota to South Africa... and have likewise traveled to help Minnesotans understand the need to join arms across the globe in support of important programs.

Here in Minnesota, Fr. James Cassidy has been instrumental in helping people of many different talents become involved in support of these programs. Whether raising funds for the J.L. Zwane Center or gathering medical supplies for one of the many trips to South Africa he's helped facilitate... he is the one who has helped build the bridge that has allowed many to join Arm in Arm.

There are many others (too many to mention individually) who have contributed their financial support, medical abilities, artistic talents and specialized skills to support the people and programs in South Africa.

Those involved may not be rich in the traditional sense of the word, but everyone does what they can. It is true

true that the recent $50 million dollar pledge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will advance HIV prevention and treatment efforts. Pharmaceutical giant Merck said it would match the funds through a program to donate anti-AIDS medications whose cost is currently out of reach to most Africans. Still, it's grass roots efforts that make the biggest difference. One fence post at a time, a garden can be made to provide food for a family. A small amount of generosity, can feed a family faced with AIDS for an entire month. Even helping to find things things we take for granted, like a pair of shoes, will make it possible for a young person to attend school.

Although it seems like an insurmountable task to make a difference in the face of such adversity, you can learn more when you click WHY? to learn how important HOPE is.

It's about Hope

Fr. James Cassidy's first trip to South Africa brought him many new views of the world. One he expressed, very simply, touches the heart of many. "It was the children. More than anything else, it was the children."

According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the number of orphans in South Africa is staggering. The 1999 estimate for the number of children under age 15 who lost their mother or both parents to AIDS was 370,952.

Meanwhile, the people are trying to find the hope to retain their human dignity while they build their communities and a future. "It is so many of the people I met. It is a family: a mother and father with HIV, two living children who are infected with HIV and one child who has already died. It is the memory of praying with these people and with Reverend Spiwo and feeling the arms of God around us."

This why we join Arm in Arm across borders... be they geographic, political, social or economic. HIV/AIDS is not one person's or country's problem. It is a human problem with global impact, and how we respond as a people is the difference between building hope or letting it fade.

"You are tempted to lose hope, but God created out of nothing. Nothingness has potential. It is out of nothing that great things come." Reverend Spiwo Xapile

It's About People

It's making a difference

Our Board Of Directors

Jim Cassidy: President

Pat Murphy: Financial Officer

Kathleen Cummings: Secretary

Julie Vogl

T. Mychael Rambo

Darryl Savage

Mark Thome

Todd Dalebroux

Arm in Arm in Africa is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. There are no salaried employees.

Our Financial Information

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