The Ardmore Excellence Fund and The U.S.A President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief.

Two years ago the Ardmore Excellence Fund (Pty) Ltd  was established to which donors were invited to participate. In addition a percentage of Ardmore 's earnings was channelled into this Fund which was to be used to:

• Increase the opportunity for training of artists and the development of management and leadership skills of those who show potential,
  
• Recognise merit by providing reward for outstanding performance and encouraging  artists to improve their skills.
  
• Create housing opportunities for artists and assist with education and health care in an area in which Aids is endemic.

About the same time, on the other side of the world, another project to help alleviate the worldwide HIV/AIDS pandemic was being launched under the leadership of U.S.A. President George Bush and through the generosity of the people of America: the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This Plan represents the largest international health initiative in history by a government dedicated to a single disease. As part of its protocol, it has developed both public and private sector partnerships across the globe and has committed $15 billion to fight AIDS. See website: http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/wwwhaids.html

In South Africa , two of PEPFAR's partners are the South African government and Bristol-Myers Squibb which launched its AIDS initiative - SECURE THE FUTURE - in 1999. The goal of this initiative has been to build sustainable models that address pressing medical, educational and community outreach needs in rural areas. (See the Bristol-Myers website: www.securethefuture.com). As Peter Dolan, the chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb, says: "A crisis on the scale and scope of AIDS can only be addressed by people and organisations working together at the grass-roots level to make a difference - one person at a time."

Through the Armore Excellence Fund, the Ardmore Ceramic Art Studios has been nominated as a 'model community' within the PEPFAR/SECURETHEFUTURE programmes. For an initial five-year period Ardmore will collaborate with both PEPFAR and SECURE THE FUTURE field people to strengthen people-to-people linkages within the broader Ardmore community and ensure that its artists and staff find their way through prevention and quality treatment and care for HIV/AIDS sufferers. There are many aspects to the programme which cover a wide spectrum of needs of the community in which AIDS is rife. These include education and counselling, voluntary testing, nutrition, treatment and care.

The Ardmore Excellence Fund in partnership with the President's Emergency Plan can spread wider, including the immediate families of the people of Ardmore and its community . But to do so it will need the help of sympathetic people who can contribute to the Ardmore Excellence Fund and replace fear with hope for the future.

The Ardmore Excellence Fund has been awarded section 21 status (NGO) under South African law. As such, the Fund can accept donations and contributions both in South Africa and internationally. All donations will be eligible for tax relief. Soon within the website will be the facility to make these direct donations.