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June 2006

The Ilemela AIDS Outreach Program in Mwanza, Tanzania, serves AIDS patients and AIDS orphans through a variety of programs. Jen Viola, S.M.A. Lay Missionary brings her creativity, energy and enthusiasm to the project, especially being available to the children who come to the new Center. The orphans enjoy a chance to read, play games and just hang out, before they go to school in the afternoon.

Jen, a recreation therapist, always has a new challenging game for the children. Imagine a crossword puzzle in Kiswahili ...and Jen and Mary successfully completed it too!

Joanna Mia, Maryknoll Lay Missioner, is the Director of the Ilemela AIDS Program. She explains that a relief agency is providing the much needed Anti-Retroviral drugs for the HIV+ patients. But the agency had no money for the Feeding Program and supplemental nutrition that is so important to maintaining the health of the HIV+ and AIDS patients. When S.M.A. sent funds from a direct mailing appeal early in 2006, Joanna said, "It came as a complete Godsend!" Jen runs a Saturday recreation program for the orphans and also invites the Amani Girls. The children look forward to these special days. Jen keeps them busy, and together they have a lot of fun and a great avenue for their creative and artistic energies.