EJAF Americas
Our US sister organisation is based in New York and makes grants to the Americas and Caribbean.
EJAF Worldwide
We are based in London and fund projects across the globe including Africa, Asia and Europe.
No More HIV Infections
The Statistics
33.3m
Number of people living with HIV globally.
2.6m
Number of people that become newly infected with HIV each year.
370k
Number of children infected with HIV through mother-to-child transmission.
Our Response
We fund a huge range of projects - from mobile testing units at football matches to sending SMS text reminders to pregnant women. They all make HIV testing easy, affordable, reliable and above all are offered to everyone without judgement or discrimination.
It's essential that HIV testing is a routine part of public health. The work we fund is always linked to national systems and we lobby governments ensure the structures are in place to maintain and expand these projects.
Our Progress
2.3m
Number of HIV tests carried out by our programmes this year.
96%
Reduction in the likelihood of passing on HIV through being on continuous treatment.
20m
Goal for the number of people tested by our programmes.
Project — Grassroot Soccer
Preventing New Infections
HIV prevalence in Zambia has reached almost 5% amongst young people aged 15 to 19 and it is estimated that only a quarter of this vulnerable group are aware of their HIV status. The Zambian government has cited the need for a widespread campaign on the benefits of knowing your status and has called for help from NGOs to increase the demand for, and provision of, HIV testing.
Grassroot Soccer (GRS) was begun in Zimbabwe in 2002 to address just this issue. They focus on the needs of young people by utilising the immense popularity and power that football commands in Africa to educate youth on topics such as making healthy decisions, avoiding risks and on HIV testing and treatment. The interactive HIV prevention and life skills curriculum is run by a diverse group of local role models that young people, both boys and girls, look up to, respect and aspire to emulate. Most of these are young (18-25) and many are female, people living with HIV, professional footballers or graduates of the programme themselves. The ability of the coaches to bond with and mentor young people ensures the programme achieves a greater impact and that the information learnt by participants is diffused throughout a community.
Since their founding, GRS have expanded to operate flagship sites in South Africa,
Zambia and Zimbabwe and, as a technical assistance partner, have helped design and launch projects in 10 other countries. Sir Elton John visited one GRS site in South Africa in 2010 to witness first-hand the great impact this programme is achieving. “Soccer stars are the most powerful role models for young people today” he said “so it’s fantastic that organisations like Grassroots Soccer are harnessing that power to educate young people about HIV’.
In mid-2010, the Elton John AIDS Foundation was pleased to support the continuing work of GRS in Zambia by making a grant of more than £1million. Through the scaling up of the GRS testing programme in the country and the establishment of an effective psychological support and follow up system, all HIV positive youth on the programme have immediate access to HIV care and treatment. The grant will be used to directly benefit an estimated 30,000 young people enrolled into the programme and at least 100,000 attending GRS testing events.
What You Can Do
Make a difference in the lives of those infected or affected by HIV and support us to continue our vital work.
What We Can Do
If you are a charitable organisation and share our commitment to making the future AIDS free we may be able to help.
Our Goals
No More
HIV Infections
We fund a huge range of projects - from mobile testing units at football matches to sending SMS text reminders to pregnant women. They all make HIV testing easy, affordable, reliable and above all are offered to everyone without judgement or discrimination. It's essential that HIV testing is a routine part of public health. The work we fund is always linked to national systems, and we lobby governments ensure the structures are in place to maintain and expand them.
No More
AIDS Deaths
HIV medicines are now available for as little as $300 a year. Enlightened donors, NGOs and governments have made them available to over 7 million people living with HIV. These medicines not only save lives, they make people living with the virus up to 96% less infectious. So it turns out compassion for those who are sick has also been the best prevention plan. We fund programmes that expand affordable, quality medical treatment to reach those who urgently need help and are still waiting.
No More Discrimination
Stigma is still HIV's most deadly symptom. We have cheap, easy ways to test for HIV, and ever more effective drugs to treat the HIV virus. We cannot use them if people living with or very vulnerable to HIV are shunned, hidden, or denied their human rights. Compassion cures discrimination. It needs no special training or qualifications, just a belief that all people deserve the chance to protect themselves and others. Without compassion, we cannot create an AIDS free future.