About HEAL
Health and Empowerment for African Lives (HEAL) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-for-profit association that was started by a group of faculty and students from the University of Illinois at Chicago who are doing research in Kisumu, Kenya and surrounding communities. The founders were faced every day with unacceptable poverty and suffering, much of it attributable to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Approximately 30% of adult women and 20% of adult men in this region are infected with HIV, and many more are affected by the scourge. HEAL was founded by the researchers to support individuals affected by the epidemic and, more recently, by the violence associated with the December, 2007 national elections, which displaced hundreds of thousands of Kenyans and ruined the homes and the small, street side businesses of the many otherwise unemployed and impoverished people in this region. In addition to individuals, HEAL supports selected community-based organizations that are responsibly addressing the needs of orphans, widows and people living with HIV/AIDS in the region.
Vision Statement
HEAL envisions a world where people are empowered to define their own needs and goals and have the capacity to meet those needs and achieve the goals they have set.
Mission Statement
We exist to promote quality of life among vulnerable Kenyan people by supporting individuals and small community based organizations to advance education, health, and empowerment. We accomplish this goal by:
- Promoting education among children and adults who would otherwise not be able to access it.
- Promoting health through nutritional supplementation and health care access for poor people who would otherwise not receive these services.
- Supporting local non-profit organizations in Africa which promote the health, education, or quality of life of disadvantage people and communities.
Core Values/Principles
- We view people and communities not as passive beneficiaries of services and programmes but as active partners empowered to define personal objectives and build better futures.
- HEAL is committed to people in need and is free of discrimination.
- Accountability, integrity, participation, and inclusion are guiding principles for our projects and activities.
Second Annual HEAL Fund-Raiser a success
On April 17th over 100 people showed up on a beautiful Friday evening at the Sidetrack Bar to raise awareness for people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Please click here to learn more about the fundraiser.
Katharine P. Bailey Memorial Fund
Please click here to learn about the life and memorial fund of Katharine P. Bailey.
Featured Project
February, 2010 - A small community-based organization, called KIPE, has begun a support group for men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM are highly stigmatized in Kenya. Homosexuality is illegal and can result in up to 14 years of imprisonment. Thus MSM, who are highly vulnerable to infection with HIV and many other sexually transmitted diseases, dare not access health care, and they have had no place to turn for treatment, care, support and information relevant to their situation. With funding from donations to HEAL, two MSM peers were trained as MSM counselors. KIPE has created an MSM support group that has grown to 200 men who meet weekly to share experiences and to perform outreach to the hidden, vulnerable MSM community to raise awareness of MSM sexual and social issues, and to assure them that support services are available for them. Clinical services are now being provided to MSM in a judgment-free, safe and confidential environment. There is a sea change going on in Kisumu.
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