TACOMA, Washington — With dedicated humanitarian efforts, famous actress, Charlize Theron, helps African organizations thrive. The South African actress created the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program (CTAOP) in 2007, with a mission to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in her home country. Over the years, however, the nonprofit has expanded its efforts into grassroots and community support operations. With the approach evolving, the mission remains the same: stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. CTAOP’s broadened methodology includes reaching young people through education, empowerment and investment.
HIV/AIDS in Africa
As a part of the Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), CTAOP states its goal as to be able to “identify innovative HIV prevention programs and then help organizations gain the capacity to become as effective and efficient as possible.” CTAOP’s website also explains why addressing the epidemic in Africa, specifically South Africa, is crucial. One reason is the amount of global HIV cases in the region. A whole two-thirds of HIV cases are in South Africa. This means that even though South Africa only accounts for less than 1% of the world’s population, it has 20% of the global HIV population. Another point is that 89% of the 1.6 million adolescents who have HIV worldwide live in South Africa. Additionally, around 4,600 new cases of HIV in South Africa occur every week and one-third of those cases are adolescent girls or young women.
Additionally, CTAOP states that reduced HIV rates in African youth result from access to educational resources, youth empowerment, responsible communities, access to health services and positive and healthy behavior.
The Vision and Approach
“We envision a future where all youth are empowered to live healthy, productive, HIV-free lives.” This is the vision that CTAOP embodies for South Africa. It is what drives its grassroots and community support approach. So, what does that mean exactly? CTAOP works as a liaison, connecting African, community-focused organizations to essential funding and building resources. The organizations that CTAOP supports are considered “Program Partners.” CTAOP chooses Program Partners who emphasize educating, empowering and investing in the younger generation.
Accomplishments of CTAOP
In 2019 alone, CTAOP accomplished the following:
-
- 347,835 youth reached with community-based services
- 46,160 youth educated on sexual and reproductive health and HIV
- 9,820 youth provided clinical health services
- 8,740 youth provided psychosocial support, counseling or empowerment services
- 15 youth leaders’ scholars supported
- $1,226,000 in grantmaking
COVID-19 and Domestic Violence Relief in South Africa
Most recently, CTAOP has joined forces with CARE and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) to address the COVID-19 pandemic and provide resources to communities in need. A whole $1 million was allocated toward COVID-19 relief in South Africa, with $500 specifically dedicated to support women and girls against domestic violence.
As Charlize Theron helps African organizations, she not only makes a difference in her home country but shows how impactful it can be to use a celebrity platform for positive change. When celebrities highlight important global issues, they bring awareness that might otherwise have not been achieved. CTAOP gives community-based African organizations the chance to thrive and reach more African youth in the fight against HIV.
– Sage Ahrens-Nichols
Photo: Flickr