The work of KIWAKKUKI
KIWAKUKKI, the Kiswahili acronym for "Kikundi cha Wanawaka Kilimanjaro na Ukimwi" (Kilimanjaro Women against AIDS), is a non-governmental organization that was created in 1990 to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. Kiwakkuki was founded to empower women in the region to access infomation about the causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS and to assist their communities in combating HIV/AIDS with education, counseling, emotional support and medical care. Today, Kiwakkuki works to improve awareness of HIV/AIDS with free testing, counseling, orphan support, home-based care, and community education.
More than 1800 families in all Kilimanjaro districts are given support by KIWAKKUKI.
Core activities:
• HIV/AIDS prevention through awareness raising, provision of factual information, research work
• Reduction of discrimination and stigma
• Home based medical care and nursing
• Voluntary counceling and testing
• Orphans’ support (access to education, recreation, shelter, good nuitrition, memory work etc.)
• Impact mitigation through Community Development Projects, small-scale entrepreneurship and Micro credit
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A major strategy is to empower women to fight HIV in their communities by facilitating access to information on HIV and providing needed skills. The women are organized in grassroot groups to ensure full access to HIV-infected and further affected and vulnerable individuals in local communities.
The major commitments and strategies of KIWAKUKKI address the UN Millenium Development Goals to eradicate poverty.
KIWAKKUKI is working with several partners, including regional hospitals, the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, orphan centres, universities, as well as international and national organisations and programs.
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