Community Based Health Education

Throughout Africa, thousands of community-based

organizations are addressing the needs of children
and families made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. These
organizations are strengthening the traditional safety
net of the extended family through a range of vital
programs and services; often operating with a great
deal of volunteer support as very few funds reach
the grassroot. STAO works with Community based
Social Care Groups as frontline response to the needs
of children affected by AIDS. We walk down to the
people, deep in the remotest of villages, and teach the
basics; what HIV/AIDS is, what it is not, ways and
means of protection from infection, and how to treat
and care for the infected without discrimination. In
vicinities where there is electricity we show videos
about nutrition, HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases. Where practical, STAO together SAVE THE AIDS ORPHANS
with it’s registered community based volunteers use Mafubira,
local polical leaders to mobilize concerts in parishes P.O. BOX 25 JINJA
as a mass approach. TEL +256782507785
We also use the home-to-home approach where we www.stao-uganda.org
reach out to those who cannot make it to the collecting Norwegian website www.stao.no
centers for one reason or another. This is where
we also reach out to the chronically ill, assess the
vulnerability rate of the children. We administer off the
shelf medication, advise on when and where to visit
professional medical care, and offer basic necessities
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Save The Aids Orphans

(STAO)
DEFINITION
Save The Aids orphans (STAO) Uganda is an independent,
indigenous non-governmental organization which was
founded in 1997 by Pastor Nelson Lufafa to address the
growing needs of orphans and widows due to the HIV/
AIDS pandemic. Though started as a community based
organization, STAO soon upgraded to a nongovernmental
organization to better handle the anticipated future
characterized by abject poverty and the unending spread of
HIV/AIDS. STAO has been a fully independent NGO since
2001 with headquarters in Mafubira, 2 kilometers from
Jinja, about two hours east of Kampala, Uganda. STAO
Uganda is also now duly registered in Norway.
OUR MISSION
STAO Uganda is a pro-life giving ministry whose mission
and mandate is to uphold the sanctity of human life and
endeavor to meet the physical, spiritual and emotional
needs to the HIV/AIDS orphans and widows in need of
welfare support.
Agape Integrated School
We currently serve about 180 orphaned and vulnerable children
(OVC) who are either living at Agape Children’s home or coming
from within our community. We run classes from kindergarten
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a time as time progreses should resources for construction and
sustainability become available.
Beyond Primary School
As children progress beyond primary school STAO continues to
pay school fees for OVCs through middle and high school level
in public schools with support from within the community and
our international partners .
Agape Children’s Home
In the absence of a suitable home for OVCs, STAO provides a
home to care for them. Children’s needs are complex and require
physical, social and spiritual care to raise them with a sense of
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serves sixty-seven children.
Widows Economic Empowerment
Projects and Support Care Groups
(SCO’s)
It is women who assume much of the responsibility for
orphaned children ultimately. The income generating
capacity of these households is profoundly constrained
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credit and lack of opportunity to accumulate productive
resources like cattle, goats, and farming implements.
They are further constrained by limited education and
training which limits their employability. STAO has
countered this trend by organizing widows in groups,
and then offering them training in different skill sets such
as tailoring, crafts, agriculture and farming. The women
work on skills of their own choice and demonstrable
ability for sustainabilty. STAO raises support for groups
of widows in form of sewing machines , supplies for
crafts, and livestock-Support Care Groups

OUR VISION
To ensure the well being of orphaned children and widows
in need of welfare support. Our aim is to reach out to all
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communities through various means.
STAO works in:
Assessing child welfare needs for orphaned, abandoned
and vulnerable children and coordinating resources for
their care.
Providing psychosocial care to widows and children
whose lives have been affected by AIDS
Empowering widows economically through pursuing
income generating activities and vocational training.
Providing formal education for orphans and vulnerable
children whose families are affected by AIDS.
Sensitizing and educating communities about HIV/
AIDS.
Providing mobile palliative care for people living with
AIDS.
Providing zspiritual care and support.