Members of the Elon community will hear from two people who are working to solve the AIDS/HIV crisis in Africa during a program at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23 in the sanctuary of the Elon Community Church. Details...
Clive Beckenham, a missionary who along with his wife, Mary, directs New Life Homes for abandoned and orphaned HIV/AIDS babies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Paul Wangai, a physician at the homes, will discuss their work. The program is free and open to the public.
More than 11 million children have been orphaned by AIDS in Africa. The Beckenhams became aware of the situation in 1989, when they arrived as missionaries in Africa. In 1994, they opened their first orphanage as one of only two orphanages in Kenya caring for AIDS orphans.
There are three New Life Homes today in Kenya, each with a remarkable record of caring for AIDS babies and orphans. Most of the babies admitted into New Life were HIV positive because of their mother’s antibodies, but more than 90 percent have retested HIV negative after receiving care at these orphanages.
A group of Elon students and faculty representing Elon Cares, the Periclean Scholars Program and the general student body are sponsoring this event.
For more information about New Life Homes, click the link below to read a 2002 BBC article: