AIAIA

About AIAIA

We come as a family to make a connection,
person to person, arm in arm.

Our Mission “We come as a family to make a connection, person to person, arm in arm and along the way to share our lives. It is our honor to improve the conditions and create opportunities for changing the cycle of poverty and disease in South Africa.”

In the fall of 2000, Rev. James Cassidy and Pat Murphy of Minneapolis, MN, with members of a small delegation made their first trip to the townships of Cape Town, South Africa to meet Rev. Spiwo Xapile from the JL Zwane Memorial Centre, a Presbyterian community.

What we do?

Giving our friends a hand-up

Health Care

AIAIA has made a strong effort to bring desperately need medical supplies to hospitals and medical centers in the townships of Cape Town as well as the Eastern Cape.

Food Distribution

In a rural community in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, poverty, malnutrition and unemployment are widespread. In an effort to sustain the families in this area, AIAIA provides a quarterly distribution.

Education

AIAIA is supporting the FLY program (Fun Learning for Youth) with funding for tutoring, textbooks, school supplies, transportation and meals in 3 Cape Town townships.

View works

AIAIA BY THE NUMBERS

215

Quarterly food parcels

100

Students received tutoring

750

Pounds of medical supplies

96%

Of donations distributed

AIAIA is dedicated to changing the cycle of poverty and disease
in South Africa

Our Latest Posts

Holiday Letter From Lorna

Dec 13 2014

The Unakho Children’s Home, a small orphanage located in Gugulethu, South Africa is home for twenty-two children, ranging in age from one…

Sustaining Partner

Nov 19 2014

Father James Cassidy recently addressed the faith community of St. Joan of Arc Church, located in Minneapolis, Mn. The presentation provided an…

Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

Aug 29 2014

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), American aid for the AIDS crisis in South Africa is soon moving on to…

Unakho Children’s Home Care

Aug 24 2014

AIAIA has received an email from Lorna Rutter, the social worker from Unakho Children’s Home Care in Guguletu where AIAIA donates funds…

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A glimpse of the work we’ve done for
our friends in South Africa

Health Care

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<h3>Hospice Care</h3>
<p>In 2002, AIAIA was instrumental in bringing the first hospice care to the townships in Cape Town, South Africa.  AIAIA purchased a building in Guguletu, a township in Cape Town, to house the hospice program, where local residents are employed and trained to be home health aids.</p>
<p>This was an important step in bringing the gift of comfort and dignity to those individuals and their families experiencing the death of their loved ones.</p>
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<h3>Medical Supplies</h3>
<p>With each annual trip, the AIAIA delegation makes a strong effort to bring desperately needed medical supplies to South Africa. The clinics and hospitals, have a continuing need for a variety of bandages, dressings, latex-free exam gloves, stethoscopes, vitamins and over-the-counter medications.</p>
<p>These contributions continue to bring relief to the so often meager medical supply inventories that exist in the townships and villages.</p>
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Mother Bear

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                                                        <h3>Mother Bear</h3>
                                                        <p>With each annual trip, Arm In Arm In Africa takes hundreds of Mother Bears to South Africa, as gifts of love and hope for people in hospitals, clinics, daycare facilities and home visits. These bears, hand knit by people all over the US, are from the motherbearproject.org and are made for people from emerging nations affected by HIV/AIDS.</p>
<p>While the bears are a delightful gifts given to the children, we are especially taken with the gratitude shown by the adults at two places we visit. One is the Missionaries of Charity in Khayelitsha, home to 60 adults and 50 children who are either orphaned or rejected by their families because of physical disabilities, TB or their HIV status.</p>
<p>The other is Canzibe Hospital in the Eastern Cape where we visit a TB ward, home to chronically ill patients. The comfort a bear brings is seen in the resident’s grateful smile.</p>
<p>Project Details</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Project:</strong> XXX</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong> Cape Town</li>
<li><strong>Assistance: XXXX</strong></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Arm-In-Arm-In-Africa" class="g-btn type_primary size_small"><span>Donate Now</span></a>

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Walk About

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                                                        <h3>Walk About</h3>
                                                        <p>Our time in Cape Town is spent mainly in the townships which are “shanty” neighborhoods with dirt roads, shared plumbing, precarious electrical wiring and beautiful welcoming residents. Our walk is to connect with our friends, share stickers with the children and to view the conditions under which they live. With each year we see improvement; houses being constructed with cement blocks and small businesses cropping up. In 2012 we saw signs of hope and entrepreneurial spirt with a families selling candy out of a booth in their yard, a woman selling goat’s feet, and another selling hats and bags made from recycled plastic bags.</p>
<p>Project Details</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Project:</strong> XXX</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong> Cape Town</li>
<li><strong>Assistance: XXXX</strong></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Arm-In-Arm-In-Africa" class="g-btn type_primary size_small"><span>Donate Now</span></a>

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Clothing for Children

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                                                        <h3>Clothing for Children</h3>
                                                        <p>AIAIA delegation delivers gifts of newborn clothes, hand knit hats and baby blankets from generous donors to Mitchell’s Plains Medical Center near Cape Town and Canzibe Hospital in the Eastern Cape. In these very poor areas, it is common for expectant mothers to arrive at these facilities with nothing to care for their babies.</p>
<p>AIAIA is very grateful to all who support this cause.</p>
<p>In addition, for the past several years, we have distributed beautifully handmade sundresses for 3 and 4 year old girls. These colorful dresses are a welcome gift for the young recipients and their families.</p>
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<p>Project Details</p>
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<li><strong>Project:</strong> Clothing</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong> South Africa</li>
<li><strong>Assistance:</strong> Cloth</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Arm-In-Arm-In-Africa" class="g-btn type_primary size_small"><span>Donate Now</span></a>

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Shelter

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                                                        <h3>Shelter</h3>
                                                        <p>In 2009, the Arm In Arm In Africa delegation met Lydia and her son, Neo, in Guguletu, South Africa. Lydia contracted HIV from a blood transfusion many years ago, but was unaware of the virus until her son was diagnosed with AIDS and she tested positive.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2em;">Project Details</span></p>
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<li><strong>Project:</strong> Shelter</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong> Gugulethu</li>
<li><strong>Assistance:</strong> Home Assistance</li>
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<a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Arm-In-Arm-In-Africa" class="g-btn type_primary size_small"><span>Donate Now</span></a>

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Senior Centre

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                                                        <h3>Senior Centre</h3>
                                                        <p>As we arrive at the Senior Centre in Guguletu, a township near Cape Town and we are welcomed to the large room with long tables and chairs where senior members of the community come for coffee, meals and fellowship.  The people here have seen a lifetime of changes in South Africa; the era of apartheid, housed in sub standard conditions, and limited by law to no more than a fourth grade education, i.e. Bantu education.  Although apartheid officially ended in 1994, change has been very slow.</p>
<p>It was also at this time in history that South Africans were experiencing the results of the HIV/AIS epidemic.  As a result, thousands of individuals became ill and many have died, leaving orphans and broken families to experience a new and equally devastating isolation.</p>
<p>Through it all these seasoned and courageous seniors have maintained their pride, their faith and their community.</p>
<p>The Arm In Arm In Africa delegation makes every effort to visit our friends at the Senior Centre every year. It is a heart warming experience to spend time with these men and women who have fought oppression all their lives and welcome us with warm hospitality.</p>
<p>Historically, in their highly segregated society, human physical contact between the various races simply would have never happened. We are honored to join them in removing the walls that have divided us, joining hand in hand for prayer prior to our departure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2em;">Project Details</span></p>
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<li><strong>Project:</strong> Emergency Food Distribution</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong> Malungeni</li>
<li><strong>Assistance:</strong> Quarterly Distributions</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Arm-In-Arm-In-Africa" class="g-btn type_primary size_small"><span>Donate Now</span></a>

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Food Distributions

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<h3>Emergency Food</h3>
<p>A food distribution of rice, mealy meal, samp, flour, cooking oil, beans and frozen chicken is similar to an emergency food shelf and is sufficient to meet the needs of families for a month. In the village of Malungeni, the food distribution began in 2003 with 15 families receiving food. The program has grown to 125 families selected by the community based on need.</p>
<blockquote><p>“I would be dead of stress and starvation by now, but I am alive and feeling strong because I know there is this helping hand called Arm In Arm.” -Nofikile</p>
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<h3>Itipini Program</h3>
<p>In 2013, AIAIA connected with a settlement of families from the former village of Itipini, a community relegated to living on a garbage dump. The government has relocated 200 people from Itipini to a similarly distressed area where high unemployment, crime, insufficient food, lack of sanitation and water are daily challenges.</p>
<p>During their visit, AIAIA brought food parcels to the families and made a commitment to support the community.</p>
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<h3>Testimonials</h3>
<blockquote><p>“I receive some money some government grant, but this does not cover my needs, as I have to pay children’s school needs, clothing, foodstuff. The month I receive the foodstuff, I can attend to other needs as I have food.” -Nokulunga</p>
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<p>“Without this program some of our people would live a miserable life, some stay with empty stomachs. We are really really so grateful to you Arm in Arm Organisation.” -Olga</p></blockquote>
<a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Arm-In-Arm-In-Africa" class="g-btn type_primary size_big"><span><strong>Donate Now</strong></span></a>
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Contact Us

3415 Fordham Court NE, St. Anthony Village, Minnesota 55421

(612) 424-2785

pmurphy@aiaia.org

Send a Message

We would love to hear what’s on your mind.

About AIAIA

We come as a family to make a connection, person to person, arm in arm.

Giving our friends a hand-up

Health Care

Food Distribution

Education

AIAIA BY THE NUMBERS

Quarterly food parcels

Students received tutoring

Pounds of medical supplies

Of donations distributed

AIAIA is dedicated to changing the cycle of poverty and disease in South Africa

Our Latest Posts

Holiday Letter From Lorna

Sustaining Partner

Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

Unakho Children’s Home Care

A glimpse of the work we’ve done for our friends in South Africa

Health Care

Mother Bear

Walk About

Clothing for Children

Shelter

Senior Centre

Food Distributions

Contact Us

Send a Message

Comments

We come as a family to make a connection,
person to person, arm in arm.

AIAIA is dedicated to changing the cycle of poverty and disease
in South Africa

A glimpse of the work we’ve done for
our friends in South Africa