The African HIV/AIDS Bear Project is a collaborative project of solidarity attempting to share our care, concern and global responsibility for the marginalized of our world who are affected by HIV/AIDS. The profits from the sale of this special Holy Bear ®, help to provide medication and food for infants in Zambia, Africa who are born to mothers who are HIV+.

Sr. Florence journeys to the bush country to draw blood work for woman unable to travel to the KAVU Clinic. Zambia is one of the seven poorest countries in the world and is situated in a region where the pandemic of HIV/AIDS is most severe. Our relationship w/ the Dominican Sisters and The KAVU Clinic in Zambia is a witness of how collaboration, solidarity and shared human concern does make a difference in the lives of many.

More information History Bear-Facts: About the Project Photo Gallery - Page 1 Photo Gallery - Page 2 Photo Gallery - Page 3

How You Can Help There are several ways you or your organization can help. Direct donations for the KAVU Clinic may be sent to the below address. Checks should be made out to HOUSTON DOMINICAN SISTERS and indicate on the check that it is for the KAVU Clinic. Funds are delivered to the clinic quarterly.                                Dominican Sisters                                c/o Kavu Clinic Project                                6501 Almeda Rd.                                Houston, TX 77021 Sponsor a Fundraising Project. Contact Holy Bears, Inc directly and place an order of (36) bears or more. Your cost of each bear is $5.00. You set the fundraiser price, (usually $10 - $12) and once the bears are sold you can direct the total profits to the beneficiary of your choice. Donations for the KAVU Clinic can be sent to the above address (Houston Dominican Sisters). Some organizations choose to split their proceeds, offering half of their profits to the KAVU Clinic and the other half to a local community HIV/AIDS outreach ministry. Purchase small order of bears, but not do a fund raiser. Frequently individuals choose to give the AIDS Bear as an alternative gift that "gives twice." Like other social justice or human awareness projects, concerned individuals purchase the bear and make the donation in the name of another. Examples of gift-giving opportunities would be: Christmas - recognizing the precious gift of life as given to us in the Christ child, and offering that gift of life to a child in Africa (stocking stuffer); Easter - recognizing the gift of hope as given us in the resurrection, and sharing that hope for life to a mother in Africa for her newborn (companion for the Easter Basket); Mother's Day - appreciating the nurturing gift of love between and mother and child and wanting another mother & child to have that same opportunity. A Teaching Moment - sometimes life events provide opportunities to teach a word of compassion, responsibility, support or education. (the bear is a great conversation starter - possibilities are endless.) Dominican Sisters most recent visit to Zambia-KAVU Clinic was March 2004.