The Rotarians For Fighting AIDS ("RFFA") are working proof that they are a Rotarian Action Group. During their first year of existence, they initiated two major projects. The first one RFFA created was a project partnership called the African Network for Children Orphaned and at Risk ("ANCHOR"). Funds from USAID were recently granted the ANCHOR partnership in the amount of $8.1 million for a project plan that will improve the well-being and protection of 146,000 orphans and vulnerable children in six African countries by building the capacity of families and communities to cope and to respond.

RFFA chose the following partner organizations to work the ANCHOR plan: HOPE worldwide/Africa (who was awarded a Best Practice label for its AIDS programs in Africa); the Coca Cola Company/Africa who provided seed funding and assistance in the development of marketing materials; and Emory University's School of Nursing who will do the monitoring and evaluation of results. The funds flow through HOPE worldwide whose staff will do the AIDS work in the African communities. Rotarians in each country will be the support partner to HOPE by mobilizing the communities in six countries to provide the children with food packets, clothing, and nutritional support; and assisting HOPE ww in training the children's caregivers in life skills and income generation skills.

RFFA's second project was recently announced at the RI Centennial Convention in Chicago. It is the creation of ORPHAN RESCUE, a program that assists children in Africa. To learn more about how you can help CLICK HERE