Artists for Charity is a 501(c)3

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

organization founded in 2002. The organization is made up of artists and individuals who volunteer and donate their

artwork A work of art, artwork, art piece, piece of art or art object is an artistic creation of aesthetic value. Except for "work of art", which may be used of any work regarded as art in its widest sense, including works from literature ...

to raise awareness and provide funding to humanitarian causes in Ethiopia.

History

The organization was founded by Ethiopian-American artist Abezash Tamerat and her husband Million Fikre, an advisor for the

World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and Grant (money), grants to the governments of Least developed countries, low- and Developing country, middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development ...

. Tamerat moved to the United States when she was eight years old. She was inspired to found the organization after returning to visit Ethiopia as an adult in 2004. Tamerat later moved back to

Addis Ababa Addis Ababa (; ,) is the capital city of Ethiopia, as well as the regional state of Oromia. With an estimated population of 2,739,551 inhabitants as of the 2007 census, it is the largest city in the country and the List of cities in Africa b ...

to live full time.

Operations

The organization raises awareness of humanitarian issues using social media and by hosting events like holiday benefits.

Artists for Charity Children's Home

The Artists for Charity Children’s Home, located in

, provides care for 16 children that have lost both parents to

HIV/AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

. The AFC Children’s Home includes a

dormitory A dormitory (originated from the Latin word ''dormitorium'', often abbreviated to dorm), also known as a hall of residence, a residence hall (often abbreviated to halls), or a hostel, is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential qu ...

bedroom, 2 kitchens, dining room, medicine room, and study room. In order to ensure proper medical care, a

nurse Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...

oversees the medicine dosing regimen and attends to minor illnesses and non-emergency

first aid First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person with a medical emergency, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery until medical services arrive. First aid is gener ...

details. Because of the immune-suppressed status of the children, a

sterile Sterile or sterility may refer to: *Asepsis, a state of being free from biological contaminants * Sterile (archaeology), a sediment deposit which contains no evidence of human activity *Sterilization (microbiology), any process that eliminates or ...

environment is maintained as much as possible. AFC ensures that all living arrangements are provided, including supplying clothing,

toiletries Personal care products are consumer products which are applied on various external parts of the body such as skin, hair, nails, lips, external genital and anal areas, as well as teeth and mucous membrane of the oral cavity, in order to make th ...

, personal items, beds, bedclothes, transportation costs, school costs and supplies, medical appointments, and medicines. The criteria for accepting children to the AFC home are: * HIV positive children between the ages of 8 and 15, and * Children who have been orphaned by both parents. * Children in extenuating circumstances, such as extreme impoverishment or abuse (physical, sexual, or mental), regardless of age.

References

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External links

Artists for Charity: U.S. student heads to Ethiopia to help HIV-positive orphans
''Tadias News'', January 16, 2009 Non-profit organizations based in Georgia (U.S. state) HIV/AIDS activism in the United States Social justice organizations 2002 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)