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Ailesbury in Haiti
The Ailesbury Humanitarian Foundation realizes that we, as a small organization, can't save the world—so we'll leave debt cancellation, governance, security, agriculture and development assistance to people like Bono et al who have larger and more effective political power. We feel that we should follow smaller projects, and focus primarily on education, water, sanitation, and HIV and other infectious diseases.
Why do you include education? Most people would not see that as a charity, but rather as a government service?
Poverty is often the result of ethnic conflict, wars, and the environment. The one-party system present in a lot of post-independent African nations has proved detrimental, because it means opposition politics are suppressed and proper secondary education is sometimes only provided for an elite few. In reality, education not only provides children and families with a pathway out of poverty, it also impacts other areas such as health and the economy. We have considered that Haiti should be a beneficiary of this project, and we intend to continue with a project that I personally have already evaluated in Tabarre, Port au Prince.
What about clean water and sanitation?
We know that over four thousand children die every day from severe diarrhea, which is caused by poor sanitation and hygiene. Clean water comes before everything, including vaccines. Investing in clean water and sanitation is also smart economically. We are looking at water filtration ceramic membrane technology to reduce bacteria and other pathogens in water. And I was impressed with meeting Jay-Z at the 2008 United Nations Humanitarian Awards, and how he has brought the issue of clean water to world attention.
You have had a long interest in HIV in Africa. Will this continue with the Ailesbury Humanitarian Foundation?
Yes. Although HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria are treatable and preventable diseases, they have a devastating impact in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa, accounts for 90% of malaria deaths, two-thirds of all people living with HIV, and nearly one-third of all TB cases. Thanks to successful efforts to push down the price of medication, and the establishment of programs such as the Global Fund and PEPFAR*, an HIV diagnosis is no longer a death sentence in the world's poorest countries.
The Ailesbury Humanitarian Foundation will probably partner with a sensible HIV project in sub-Saharan Africa—possibly in Malawi, but probably in South Africa where we already have some history. We are looking at funding a school clinic project there, not in an educational sense, but more in providing a clinic for HIV orphans.
We need to remain apolitical, especially because I have always disagreed with the policies of the South African government on the treatment of HIV/AIDS, particularly under the stewardship of Thabo Mbeki. We would like to include an association with GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization), but we have to be careful not spread ourselves too thin. The United States government has been generous in its assistance toward vaccination programs. Once vaccinationed, these children are fine—but vaccination assistance must continue.
When do you see the Ailesbury Humanitarian Foundation coming to fruition?
Within a few months. We already have people working on this project in London and New York, and we expect to launch in late September.
Poverty is often the result of ethnic conflict, wars, and the environment. The one-party system present in a lot of post-independent African nations has proved detrimental, because it means opposition politics are suppressed and proper secondary education is sometimes only provided for an elite few. In reality, education not only provides children and families with a pathway out of poverty, it also impacts other areas such as health and the economy. We have considered that Haiti should be a beneficiary of this project, and we intend to continue with a project that I personally have already evaluated in Tabarre, Port au Prince. Poverty is often the result of ethnic conflict, wars, and the environment. The one-party system present in a lot of post-independent African nations has proved detrimental, because it means opposition politics are suppressed and proper secondary education is sometimes only provided for an elite few. In reality, education not only provides children and families with a pathway out of poverty, it also impacts other areas such as health and the economy. We have considered that Haiti should be a beneficiary of this project, and we intend to continue with a project that I personally have already evaluated in Tabarre, Port au Prince
