African Orphans' Fund

The African Orphans Fund was founded in 2004 and registered in 2006 in Washington, DC by Essau P. Pwelle. AOF is a small, proud non-profit charitable organization registered under section 501 (c) 3 of the IRS code. This means that AOF is a tax exempted organization for its contributors, donors, sponsors, volunteers, and individuals who may qualify for our contribution and pledging towards our services, projects, programs, events, etc. Since its establishment, AOF has assisted more than 300 orphan children in sub-Saharan Africa by providing basic school supplies and renewing a sense of national pride through traditional African culture, food, music, dancing, drums, and even clothing. AOF has a long way to go in order to aid  as many orphans children in sub-Saharan Africa as we can. Your mutual support is highly appreciated and together we can achieve great things.

In August 2003 The Global Aids Alliance conference in Washington, DC motivated Pwelle to turn his profitable business to a non-profit business so that he could focus on orphan children in sub-Saharan Africa. At the conference, Pwelle was assigned with other HIV/Aids activists from Florida to go to the Congressmen of Florida to lobby for about 3 Billion former United States President, George W. Bush promised to give to the Global Fund in order to combat HIV/Aids world wide. The promised 1 Billion was not given to the Global Fund to fund the African Continent. 2 Billion was given to Global Fund, and the rest Bush argued that he could not approve it because Africa had too poor of an infrastructure to spend 1 Billion on HIV/AIDS. This statement is very obvious about what some pharmaceutical companies and other corporations have been rejecting to reduce prices on HIV/AIDS medicine for Africa because they don't think African people can use the medicine properly (READ THIS). Instead they let them die every day. Pwelle was among five other African representatives who were invited to attend the conference. If you would like to know more about his argument with congressmen at capital hill, write to him, and he will be happy to share with you his argument in detail. At last, Bush gave $ 700 million for the Millennium Challenge Program for Tanzania (READ THIS). We still have long way to go in order to overcome the HIV/AIDS pandemic disease in sub-Saharan Africa.  Please! Consider joining our efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. We could use your help.

December 1st, 2003, "AIDS DAY" Pwelle was invited by Laura, Lauren, and Riggs from University of Arizona to speak about HIV/AIDS in Tanzania where hundred students joined the Students for International Change organization to become volunteers to teach and bring awareness about HIV/AIDS in Tanzania secondary school. Their program is based in Arusha region, Tanzania where Pwelle lived for 8 years before coming to the United States. The result of this event motivated hundreds of students to sign up with the volunteering program. Since then, more than one hundred students from Southern States Universities in the United States go to Tanzania every year to volunteer. Today Tanzanian students have been involved in many discussion forums about HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives, and consequently, there has been a significant improvement in last six years in HIV/AIDS reduction rate. Tanzania is only one of many sub-Sahara African countries affected by HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis (TB). In most African traditional customs it is very hard to discuss any sexual related issues with parents. This is why we are encouraging students to join other students in sub-Saharan Africa to bring awareness through volunteering and student exchange programs.  If you are interested to join our efforts or volunteering programs, please don't hesitate to email us!

In 2004 Pwelle returned to Tanzania after living in the United States for one year. He went back to Tanzania to finish students trip arrangement for Dr. Challoner's High School in the United Kingdom who booked his students cultural exchange trip before he left Tanzania in 2002. Students were pleased by Pwelle's arrangements to attend Tanzanian traditional music held at the Julius K. Nyerere (former Tanzanian president) Foundation Center in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The following month, Pwelle proposed a fundraiser concert to raise funds for the Mbagala Elementary School in Dar-es-Salaam, after which there were orphans attending that school with very minimal school supplies. After the fundraiser the following month Pwelle under Student Travel Society, LLC arrangement. He held a media conference to bring awareness and encouraged every individuals in Tanzania to support ongoing academic problems of the orphans children and other vulnerable children facing in sub Saharan Africa of not having school fees, supplies, clothing, and food to eat. On this day Pwelle purchased books, pencils, pens and charcoal boards for 100 students and 10 teachers worth $ 250. These supplies are very basic supplies for students and teachers in the US. In developing countries where five household family members live under $5 per week, it is a great deal to enroll even their own kids for school or support them with school supplies while they can not afford to buy even food to eat.  Pwelle after his return to the US, he thought about starting the AOF. In 2006 the AOF was officially founded and registered in Washington, DC and Montana.

In 2006 with the help of people of Bozeman, Montana, AOF was able raise $1,365 and install 20 wall mounted mechanical pencil sharpeners and supply 200 pencils in 20 schools in Kaoma District, West Province of Zambia (Central Africa).  AOF, on behalf of the orphans children in Zambia, would like to thank everyone who stood by them to support AOF efforts. Thank you for your generosity! 

In 2007 Pwelle launched the African Banjo Music Project to support AOF efforts to raise funds through our music, banjo products, t-shirts, African drums, mugs, etc. Please visit our African Banjo website for more information.

December, 2009 Pwelle launched first single album with six songs which were recorded at KGLT Radio Station in Bozeman, Montana by good friend Jack Chance. We have 25 CD's ordered. Thanks to KGLT staff and their management for making this project possible! Currently, Pwelle is working on a documentary music project with orphan children in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The project is scheduled to begin in March 2011. When it is complete, Pwelle will return to the US for a music tour to take place in summer or later months 2011. Venues in the US TBA. 80% of the show proceedings will benefit orphans/caregiver in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.