Joining Keep A Child Alive for India

[Nafiesa Rasoelbaks]

I'm gonna be completely honest with you, so read all and then judge.

The first time I heard of KCA was through Alicia Keys. Yes, I am in her fan club, yes I'm 25, I know it's lame, but it's okay I'm a member since 2002 ;-) So AK went to Africa and talking about KCA, helping out and suddenly everyone in the fan club was buzzing about it. A few friends of mine began doing this charity at a school and I designed some t-shirts that were sold and the money was donated to KCA. While all this happened I wasn't really interested in KCA, it was more about helping my friends out than really meaning something to those who are in need of medication.

KCA was all about the kids in Africa and I have totally no connection with Africa, not the country, not the people, nothing. My roots lay in India/Pakistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India), my parents are from Surinam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname) and I'm born and raised in The Netherlands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Netherlands). This might leave some questions open, so let me answer them right away ;-)

I'm Indian and also a Muslim, this happened due to the fact that when my great great great grandparents (something like that) lived, Pakistan + India were one country. The main religion of those countries were Hinduism and Islam. So the Dutchmen were real good in taking people away from their country and make them work in their newly conquered land, as we all know what happened with the people they took from Africa. Something similar can be said for my ancestor, but they were given contracts to go work in Surinam, which was by then a colony of The Netherlands.

So basicly that's the story how my roots traveled from India+Pakistand (Asia) to Surinam (South-America) and settled in The Netherlands (Europe). Ohh wait, I didn't tell how we got in The Netherlands! My mom moved here with her parents and siblings, her younger brother needed a surgery and since then they settled here. Since Surinam was a colony of The Netherlands, they already had the Dutch citizenship. My dad moved here solo to come live to good life. At one point they met, married, got children, raised their children, got divorced, exactly living the European lifestyle ;-)

Okay back to the story!
I never visited India physically, but I always felt a deep connection with the country. There is alot of poverty and people that are in need of basic things. Not only the beggars in Mumbai, but alot of people in cities with names we never heard of or cannot even pronounce. So while everybody was giving attention to the Africans in need, I felt a little hurt in the heart because how could the Indians receive help? Who would care for them? I felt helpless and just carried on with these selfish thoughts.

You see India isn't just poverty at all, there is a lot of wealth, a lot of culture. I mean who doesn't know yoga, spirituality, Ghandi, curry, A.R. Rahman. How many people have said, "I've been to India and it has been such a spiritual trip, it was beautiful". Have they also seen the poverty, the illness and the sadness? How do you include that in your life? How do you tell about that part of that beautiful country?

At one point I suddenly saw KCA mentioning India, I don't know where it was exactly. I think in a tweet from Leigh Blake and I was shocked. Like no way! This is a breakthrough! They're gonna get help as well! From that point on I decided to help. Also a friend of mine, I don't know if she signed up here already, but she mentioned there would be a commercial contest for the BlackBall UK 2010 and since video is one of my stronger points, Im gonna participate in that contest and help to spread the word.

You may think I'm awful, because I didn't wanted to help in the first place with the Africans. It just wasn't in my heart at that time, but now I want to participate, spread the word and get help from all around the world.

[Timothy James Salser]

I love you!

[Noelle Esquire]

Hi Nafiesa!

It is so inspiring to read about your interest in supporting Keep a Child Alive's work in India! In 2007, we began our outreach to India by funding an orphan care center in Chandrakal, Hyderabad. This experience brought to the forefront the emergency issue of safety for HIV+ women and children in the face of discrimination and destitution in India. In September, KCA Co-Founders Alicia Keys and Leigh Blake announced our commitment to care for the vulnerable women and children in India infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Our Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action – “Safe and Sound: Women, Children and HIV in India” – seeks to address the trauma of the AIDS pandemic in India, the cruel impact of the virus on the lives and futures of women, and the heartbreaking stories of abandoned HIV+ children and orphans. Over the next five years, Keep a Child Alive commits to establishing a series of safe-houses to protect HIV+ women and children, and children orphaned by AIDS.

The safe-house structure will foster an environment where vulnerable women and children can feel safe and supported with the medical treatment and care that they need, educational opportunities they would otherwise not have access to, and programs that will help them build skills they can use to sustain their daily lives. KCA will focus our efforts in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra State, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu where we will provide to those in the most desperate need of medical, nutritional and psycho-social support to fight the effects of HIV/AIDS.

And we’re not stopping there. KCA recognizes that the silence and discrimination that surrounds HIV in India are key drivers to the epidemic, and we are committed to breaking that silence in India with a second Commitment to Action through the Clinton Global Initiative. Joining forces with S.A.F.E. (Sponsored Arts for Education), Keep a Child Alive will develop and implement an innovative HIV awareness campaign to reduce the level of stigma against HIV in India. S.A.F.E. is a brilliant organization that uses theatre, combined with community activities and education, to deliver life-saving information about HIV/AIDS to the most under-served populations in Kenya. Keep a Child Alive has previously supported S.A.F.E.’s invaluable work in Kenya, and this commitment marks the joint effort of both organizations to expand our work into India. Together, we will utilize community based education and the powerful forces of public media to raise awareness about HIV through our Commitment to Action – “Breaking the Silence: De-Stigmatization of HIV in India.”

Stay tuned for more news about our expansion into India! We appreciate your support!