The Women of Pasua

So where do you begin when you’re about to ask all your friends and family for money to support a few unlucky souls in Africa!?!

I started this post several days ago wanting to explain that with just over 10% of the world’s population, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 64% of HIV positive people resulting in 2 million death per year. That Sub-Saharan Africa has 90% of children under15 living with the virus and that 12 million children here are orphans. Then I thought no, I don’t need to explain this to my friends and family as they are all quite aware how HIV and AIDS have ravaged this part of the world.

Then I started to write about how fortunate we all should feel to live in the United States or other western countries where we don’t have to worry about safe drinking water, proper sanitation, whether or not we can afford to go to primary or secondary school, or having access to proper healthcare when we get sick. No, I thought, my friends already know just how lucky we are to live where we do.

No, what I want to focus on are the women of the Pasua ward in Moshi, Tanzania. These are women who suffer from HIV, have several children to support, have most likely lost the breadwinner in the family to AIDS, or who have left because of the stigma that surrounds the disease, and have very little hope of making a better life for themselves. These are women live on less then $1 a day and are classified as extremely poor. Extreme poverty is prevalent in 20% of the developing world and in 45% of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a reason for the many other problems which plague this part of the world including chronic hunger, child mortality, poor maternal health, and of course the high prevalence of HIV.

As you’re all probably aware by now, my time here in Africa has been focused in the area of micro-credit. I’ve come to see and realize the incredible difference that a small amount of capital can make for those who have the desire to make a better life for themselves but have no means to do so. My NGO has taken a slightly different approach to helping the poor here in Tanzania. Our small business program through the help of donors provides a one time grant to women living with HIV and then volunteers like me come to provide the business expertise and training. With access to antiretroviral drugs, the future for these women and their children is much brighter. Our hope is that the grant and business training will give these women the boost which releases them and their families from the grip of extreme poverty.

Over the last couple months I’ve been helping 15 lucky women in Rau to start and maintain their own small business. The program has gone extremely well and is something I’m hoping to replicate with another 15 women in Pausa. My goal is to raise at least $1500 to fund the next round of potential business women. I’d like to ask for your support in my goal in raising this money. Your sponsorship will be used to purchase the initial stock each woman will need to start their own small business.

In exchange for your support, I pledge to train and follow up with each woman as they start and run their own small businesses.

I pledge to train the Pasua community volunteers whom I now work with to maintain this project so that when I leave it will continue to function on its own.

To top it off I also pledge to climb Mt. Meru, Tanzania’s second highest mountain at 15,067ft (4566m) on one leg with no shoes blindfolded just to show you how serious I am about all of this. Actually, no chance but I will climb it and I am serious about all of this!

So, will you sponsor me on my climb and in doing so in my pledge to help the women of Pasua in their quest for a better life? Your donations of $25, $50, $75, or $100 will make an incredible difference in the lives of these women and they in turn will be forever grateful for your support.

To make a pledge please go to the following web site:
If you cannot pledge by credit card but would still like to sponsor me, the archaic check is always good in my book. It can be sent to:

Ken Nelson
28540 State Hy 3 N.E.
Poulsbo, Wa. 98370

Thank you so much for your support!
David