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MICATO SAFARIS’ AMERICASHARE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PEPFAR’S PARTNERSHIP FOR AN HIV-FREE GENERATION LAUNCH

MICATO SAFARIS’ AMERICASHARE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PEPFAR’S PARTNERSHIP FOR AN HIV-FREE GENERATION LAUNCH

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Nairobi, Kenya – January 20, 2009 – Micato Safaris’ nonprofit foundation, AmericaShare, along with 19 other esteemed private sector companies, was proud to support the recent launch of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s (PEPFAR) innovative new initiative aimed at combating HIV/AIDS amongst at-risk youth ages 10 to 24.

This unprecedented public-private partnership, called Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation, is comprised of established corporate and non-governmental leaders in the fight against HIV-AIDS, including AmericaShare, The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, Microsoft, Nike Foundation, and Warner Bros. Advanced Media Services, Inc. The ultimate goal of the Partnership for an HIV-Free generation is to prevent 12 million new HIV infections over a ten-year timeframe.

The Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation will equip young people to take control of their lives and futures through pioneering approaches to promote healthy living, positive behavior change, gender equality, and links with economic skills and opportunities. The program will leverage the expertise of companies whose success depends upon changing youth behavior, including through video games and text messaging. Some of the innovative ways that youth will be reached include:

  • Age-appropriate games -- with a special emphasis on younger youth -- about HIV prevention.
  • A multi-player computer game, “Pamoja Mtaani” (Swahili for “Together in the Hood”) that provides a platform for behavior change among 15-19 year olds.
  • Technical assistance to raise awareness about HIV among youth, while better preparing young people for the future through a focus on technology education, fostering local innovation and creating jobs and opportunity.

The pilot program in Kenya will meet youth where they normally congregate -- at community centers such as AmericaShare’s Harambee Centre, faith-based venues, schools and businesses. The knowledge of behavior change experts in the private sector will be leveraged to draw youth to prevention sites, reach them where they are, and keep them coming back. They will also work to identify job opportunities and provide entrepreneur mentorship linked to real jobs for economic gain in private sector businesses, thereby getting youth off the streets and helping them to build a better future. Finally, the Partnership will build upon the core competencies of the private sector in market and other research to evaluate behavior change in real time and to modify approaches to maximize efficacy.

“We are honored to be a part of this extraordinary endeavor created by PEPFAR,” states Lorna Macleod, Executive Director of Micato Safaris’ AmericaShare foundation. “AmericaShare was founded more than 20 years ago to help orphaned and vulnerable children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, so this initiative is near and dear to our hearts.”

The pilot program in Kenya is expected to expand rapidly to other PEPFAR countries. A full list of Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation partners and their contributions to the alliance can be found at http://www.pepfar.gov/documents/organization/112568.pdf This link opens in a new window.

For more information about Micato Safaris, visit www.micato.com For more information about AmericaShare, visit www.AmericaShare.org This link opens in a new window For more information about Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation, visit http://www.pepfar.gov/ppp/hivfree/ This link opens in a new window

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About Micato Safaris
Jane and Felix Pinto founded Micato Safaris in Kenya in 1966, and the company has been providing the most luxurious and personalized African safaris to sophisticated travelers ever since. Winning the coveted Travel+Leisure “World’s Best Tour Operator & Safari Outfitter” award for an unprecedented six years (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008), Micato prides itself on providing exceptional service throughout every stage of the safari experience.

About AmericaShare
Over 20 years ago, Micato Safaris founded AmericaShare (www.AmericaShare.org This link opens in a new window), a nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping women and children affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Nairobi, Kenya. AmericaShare’s mission is to facilitate sustainable change through education, community outreach, and economic empowerment. Micato Safaris pays 100% of AmericaShare’s administrative costs, so that all donations made by safari travelers, corporate donors, industry friends and staff go directly to those who need it most.

AmericaShare’s projects include: a School Sponsorship Programme, which places orphaned or vulnerable children in reputable boarding schools, providing them with the opportunity for a better life; a women’s cooperative that, with low-interest loans backed by AmericaShare, has set up self-sustaining businesses selling flour, coal, and crafts and that provides much-needed services to Mukuru residents living with or affected by HIV/AIDS; and a borehole project that provides fresh water to the community. In 2007, AmericaShare opened Harambee Centre, a multi-purpose facility that serves as a community centre for residents of Mukuru and headquarters for the women’s cooperative. In addition, AmericaShare channels funding to several local organizations, including Nyumbani Children’s Home, which cares for children with AIDS, and Edelvale, a home dedicated to the care of girls and young women.

AmericaShare is a member of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.