Partner Success Story: Luapula Foundation

LUAPULA FOUNDATION WAS A FIRELIGHT GRANTEE-PARTNER FROM 2003 TO 2008. WE ASKED MOSES ZULU, LUAPULA'S DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER, TO REFLECT ON HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRELIGHT AND THE IMPACT OF LUAPULA FOUNDATION IN THE COMMUNITY. Here's what he said...

The idea of starting Luapula Foundation came in 1999. The hospital had just opened the first HIV testing facility. We knew something was going on when we weren't able to treat what we thought was a chronic tuberculosis problem. It turned out to be widespread HIV. I still remember my first thought: What about the children? Who will care for them if their parents are gone?

I quickly turned to two friends to discuss how we could respond. We decided to start Luapula Foundation. It would focus on teaching people to help themselves. The goal was not charity. It was empowering individuals to afford their basic needs.

Read how Luapula Foundation helped 11-year-old Chalwe and his family here.

We wrote many proposals, but Firelight was the one that said yes, we'd like to fund you. Over the course of our partnership with Firelight, they provided $83,000 in funding and so much more--they helped us plan our growth, introduced us to our second donor and spread the word about our work.

By the end of the partnership, we had a new capacity and confidence. That led us to apply for a $2.3 million grant from the New Partnership Initiative under the U.S. government's program for AIDS relief (PEPFAR), which we received. We are now the primary provider of HIV counseling and testing in the whole province, reaching people others cannot reach. We work directly with children and families because HIV is not just a health issue. The impact is felt throughout the community.

Read how Firelight identified and supported the Luapula Foundation here.