In an attempt to expand internationally, Yale AIDS Watch (YAW) has established a liaison with a non-governmental organization in Zambia, called the Zambia Anti-AIDS Students’ Club (ZAASC). The liaison establishes strong ties between the two organizations which will help both the organizations exchange resources in such a way that both the Zambian and the Yale communities are helped.

To increase AIDS awareness, ZAASC also uses media support. Here, the president prepares a national appeal to be broadcasted on the national television, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) shortly.

ZAASC is an excellent initiative in Zambia that aims at increasing AIDS awareness amongst high school students. Because of lack of sufficient emphasis on AIDS, particularly among high school students in Zambia, ZAASC seeks to educate these students, through experienced counseling and personal advisory support.

A very sick patient at Mother Theresa Old Age Home, Lusaka, Zambia

ZAASC is divided into two committees: the members committee and the counselors committee. The members committee consists of students from many schools in Zambia (totaling about 3600 students). The counselors committee consists of well-experienced counselors (doctors, professors, researchers, and most importantly perhaps, HIV-infected volunteers and the clergymen). Students in the club are visited by counselors, year in and year out, who educate them thoroughly about AIDS. ZAASC has a very dedicated secretariat that tries its best to make sure that every member is touched by at least three counselors in a year. This repeated counseling, and other personal-advisory initiatives are working very well and students’ response is overwhelming.

Lets fight AIDS together - members committee at work.

Established in a country where the resources are very limited, the executive committee of ZAASC is always in short of resources. It has a budget of approximately 100 million kwacha (US$ 20,000). With an ever-growing member’s committee, there is a tremendous strain on the budget. The local industries, although coming forward to contribute, do not compliment the budget substantially. Therefore, the ZAASC secretariat was looking for international support that is both stable and dedicated and has will and resources to contribute to the cause. YAW happens to be a perfect partner.

They need your help…please.

YAW aims at helping ZAASC in many ways. The first project that we looked at was donation of clothes. There are numerous AIDS-support homes in Zambia that require clothing and medication. YAW has set up a committee that deals with collecting clothes at Yale. We hold a meeting every Monday to discuss the progress. When there are enough clothes collected for a shipment, we ship the clothes to Zambia. ZAASC distributes these clothes to appropriate AIDS-support homes. YAW is also looking at various other projects like AIDS literature support; supply of brochures; summer internships etc.

If you are interested in contributing or joining this cause, contact the coordinators of YAW, David Steinberg or Matt Wilson. Should you have any questions regarding the Zambia Anti-AIDS Students’ club, these are the contact details:

Office Address:
Luangwa Block
Exploration House
Government Road
Ridgeway
Lusaka, Zambia

Telephone: 00 260 95-889118
Fax: 00 260 1 229061

E-mail: zaasc@zamnet.zm

President:
Raja H R Bobbili
Email: tinku@zamnet.zm
Phone: 00 260 1 229061