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About Rotarians for Fighting AIDS About Us…The Beginning
Gaining a reputation as a passionate speaker on the subject of HIV/AIDS throughout the world of Rotary, Marion caught the attention of members of the Board of Rotary International. She was invited to Africa in 2001 to learn more about AIDS problems. In 2002, Past RI President Bhichai Rattakul heard her speak and requested assistance for a plan to “help the victims of AIDS, especially the children.” Responding, Marion formed a public/private partnership called “ANCHOR” (Africa Network For Children Orphaned and at Risk). At the same time, the RI Board of Directors approved the formation of Rotarians For Fighting AIDS, Inc. (RFFA), a Rotarian Action Group of Rotary International. RFFA operates in accordance with Rotary International policy, but is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International. Rotary International is not liable for the activities of RFFA.
RFFA'S Mission is to mobilize Rotarians to fight HIV/AIDS.We break the silence on AIDS, thereby reducing the stigma and making AIDS a mainstream issue. RFFA's mission directs Rotarians to work on HIV/AIDS education and prevention, with a particular focus on developing and implementing community support efforts for orphans and vulnerable children. RFFA engages and mobilizes Rotarians from all countries to join major, sustainable programs to support children. Rotarians address and combat the pandemic while providing global leadership in HIV/AIDS.
Recent EventsWill you join us in Montreal?Distribution of School Uniform And Issuing Of School Fee Cheques At Mathare Polytechnic
Marion Bunch, Founder and CEO of RFFA gives keynote presentations to Rotary International Districts 9680 and 9700 at their District ConferencesAll I can say is amazing, inspirational and motivational! Marion had our mob quiet as church mouses and totally engaged in what she had to say. It has already made my job a whole lot easier and one club president said he will have all 45 members of his club join RFFA. The DGN Ian Simpson for D9700 also came up to me and said "Now it is clear as daylight on what we have to do, up until I had heard Marion I was not sure what you wanted us to do."
Click Here to read the full story Mothusi, South Africa HIV/AIDS Project receives new vehicle thanks to the generosity of a grant from The Rotary Club of Royal-Vale, United Kingdom.
Click Here to read the Thank You Letter
Orphan Rescue Kit (O.R.K.)During RFFA's first year, we initiated a major international partnership and the Orphan Rescue project. First, a partnership called the African Network for Children Orphaned and at Risk ("ANCHOR") was created. USAID funds ($8.1 million) were granted to ANCHOR for a project designed to improve the well-being and protection of 146,000 orphans and vulnerable children in African countries. "Orphan Rescue" was born and announced at Rotary International's Centennial Convention in Chicago, June, 2005. RFFA Founder Featured in The RotarianOctober 2009's issue of The Rotarian magazine features Rotarians For Fighting AIDS, Inc. Founder Marion Bunch. The Up Front segment credits the partnerships built with Coca Cola, HOPE worldwide and PEPFAR (The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) as key players in RFFA. RFFA Featured in Rotary Africa MagazineMay Rotary Africa Editor's NoteIn her Editor's letter at the beginning of the May Rotary Africa magazine, Sarah van Heerden wrote: "Politics is unique to each country. However the problems faced by Africa's poor people contaminates the continent as a whole and are not unique to a specific country. That is why is was heart warming to read of how powerful partnerships are making a difference and reaching across borders to help ease the suffering faced by children. One story that caught my attention this month was that of how the Rotary Action Group RFFA (Rotarians for Fighting AIDS) and its partnership with HOPE Worldwide and The Coca Cola African Foundation, sent a convoy of trucks from South Africa to Harare and delivered more that 100 tonnes of aid to Zimbabwe (page 11). Inspiring stuff from the RFFA team and I can't wait to see what the team does next!" The article, titled Powerful Partners, provides an overview of the work RFFA is doing and highlights how Rotarians, The Coca Cola Africa Foundation and HOPE worldwide engineered an emergency food drop. Here's the report from Rotary Africa: Powerful Partners - Rotary Africa MagazineOne of the main activities of The Rotary Action Group RFFA (Rotarians for fighting AIDS) is its partnership with HOPE Worldwide and The Coca Cola African Foundation to provide care, support and services to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in seven African countries. The partnership is called ANCHOR - African Network of Children Orphaned and at Risk: Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa and Mozambique (with Canadian Rotarians). Previously, despite numerous attempts RFFA has not been able to start operations in Zimbabwe. In December 2008 Hope Worldwide well-wishers in America sent US$4,000 to help feed hungry OV children in Zimbabwe. These children have fallen victim to the ongoing food shortages, the cholera crisis and the complete breakdown of medical services that plague the country. Hope WW asked RFFA to assist. RFFA Rotarians in Harare were contacted and asked to distribute this money (or the food it could buy) to best effect. Their other African partner, The Coca Cola Africa Foundation, rushed to assist and made more than US$100,000 available. Suddenly the project to bring relief to Zimbabwe's orphaned and vulnerable children had blossomed into a project of a far greater magnitude. The sudden magnitude of the project failed to daunt the Zimbabwean Rotarians who immediately expanded their reach and identified up to 2 000 OVC, families and communities that were in dire need. Wonderful co-operation by all parties involved, including the transport to freight forwarders and the Coke bottlers in Harare, saw 94 tonnes of maize meal, 6 000 litres of cooking oil, 7.5 tonnes of sugar beans and 3.75 tonnes of green soap, begin the journey to Zimbabwe from Heidelburg, at the beginning of May. A mere 48 hours after the trucks left, the goods had been off loaded and stored in Harare. Food distribution has begun, as part of a planned programme to feed and support the needy beneficiaries during the next three months. RFFA Fall 2009 NewsletterRFFA's Fall 2009 newsletter is available in a full color version or in text only format. Topics include RFFA Awards presented in Birmingham, England, HIV-Free Generation in Kenya Update, Coca Cola Africa and the Chongwe School, District 9700 ORK Challenge a Success.
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Rotarians For Fighting AIDS, Inc. (RFFA) was founded by Marion Bunch of The Rotary Club of Dunwoody, Atlanta, Georgia/USA. Marion brought a personal perspective to the battle against AIDS when she lost her son, Jerry, to this disease in 1994. Her action began with an AIDS education project in 1997.
