Read the facts behind the headlines and discover how the Foundation supports those in need.
Now the largest independent HIV/AIDS funder in the UK, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has been awarding grants here for nearly 15 years. Their stated mission, “to alleviate the physical, emotional and financial hardship of those living with, affected by or at risk of HIV/AIDS”, has led to the funding of programmes reaching more than 1/3 of all those diagnosed with HIV in the UK.
EJAF’s work initially focused on easing the suffering of those who were dying of AIDS in the UK. This included improving hospital environments and meals, providing respite care and complementary therapies. Since then, they have responded to the changing face of the epidemic in the UK, particularly the increased efficacy and availability of antiretroviral therapy.
Whilst continuing to support people living with HIV/AIDS, including regional support groups, they have also given a particular focus to work with more marginalised populations. These communities, although vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, often find it harder to access mainstream services. They include prison populations, refugees and asylum seekers, male sex workers, black and minority ethnic groups and lesbian, gay and bisexual youth.
For the past 14 years they have supported hardship and nutritional support programmes, which have helped over 36,000 people suffering from HIV/AIDS related poverty and hardship in the UK.
EJAF has also worked to influence UK government and sector policy in a number of areas including commissioning reports into prison HIV/AIDS services, homophobia in schools and a survey of young people living with haemophilia. In conjunction with the other members of the AIDS Funders’ Forum, they recently commissioned a strategic review of HIV social care, support and information services across the UK. The results of this review can be found on the UK page of their new website,
www.ejaf.com.
Since its inception, however, EJAF has extended the scope of its work to address the growing international need for HIV/AIDS services. EJAF now funds in 17 countries over 4 continents. To date they have raised £40 million* which has been used to support more than 1,100 projects reaching millions of people infected, affected or at risk of HIV/AIDS.
EJAF’s international work now accounts for over 80% of their grants budget. The majority of this work focuses on countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, although they also fund in Eastern Europe and Latin America. The focus of these international projects is dictated by individual grant strategies that have been developed for each country according to its specific environmental and epidemiological needs. Details of these can be found on their website. However, the broad themes of their international work include:
Supporting Women and Children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to infection because so often they have no power over the choices that affect their lives. EJAF is working to mitigate the risk of infection by increasing women’s access to HIV services including preventing pregnant women from passing the virus to their babies.
EJAF has supported over 150,000 children living with or affected by HIV, including those orphaned by the disease, to access essential care, nutrition, education, health services and a safe loving family home. They have also helped kick-start the Clinton HIV/AIDS Paediatric Initiative by providing funding for 3,000 Kenyan children to access antiretroviral therapy.
*To December 2006, as per the latest audited accounts.
Working with vulnerable and marginalised populations. EJAF is understandably proud of its success at working with those communities who, although highly vulnerable to HIV infection, are marginalised by society and thus excluded from mainstream HIV/AIDS services. These include, men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, prison populations and injecting drug users (IDU).
EJAF was one of the first grant makers in the world to acknowledge the needs of MSM in countries where homosexuality is still illegal. They have since reached over 175,000 MSM with information and care services but more is still needed:
“Globally less than 1 in 20 MSM have access to the HIV prevention and care services that they need.”
Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, UNAIDS 2006.
Empowering and supporting people living with HIV/AIDS. EJAF believes that positive people are central to creating effective responses to the epidemic. They have followed through on this belief by funding positive people’s groups and networks around the world, helping them to support a combined total of over 200,000 members and to advocate on their behalf, influencing the type of HIV/AIDS treatment and care services provided. This includes supporting the establishment of the first national positive people’s network in the Ukraine, an organisation that now supports 15,000 people per month and has been selected as the Global Fund’s ‘principle recipient’ of its US$151 million funding in Ukraine.
EJAF has also supported initiatives that seek to increase access to HIV and treatment information, helping over 1 million people to better understand their condition and their options through treatment updates and positive living programmes.
Providing livelihood support to people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. EJAF recognises the profound economic impact that HIV has on families already struggling with poverty. They aim to mitigate this by supporting livelihood and food security programmes that empower households to thrive independently with adequate nutrition, shelter, medical care and with children in school.
In the developing world this support has been directed through nutritional programmes, that have reached over 190,000 people, and vocational training and income generation activities for positive people, AIDS widows, orphans and at risk groups, enabling them to gain employment or establish small businesses.
Whilst the size of EJAF funding may not be seen as in the same league as some, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, philanthropic observers have noted the significance of EJAF’s international grant programme. Stephen Lewis, the former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, comments:
“The Gates money tends to be used for major scientific innovations and to drive the search for a vaccine, to undertake massive programs of prevention, whereas the Elton John funding is used at the grass roots level, on the ground, which most dramatically affects the lives people lead - in fact, keeps people alive. Both approaches are required.” +
For more information on EJAF’s work or to make a donation please visit: www.ejaf.com
Dr Maria Lindner and Sir Elton John holding a baby dying with AIDS at Nkandla District Hospital PHOTOGRAPH: Sydney Duval
