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Mark was fortunate to be selected by the Voluntary Services Overseas VSO to work on a short term placement in Zambia with an organisation named ZARAN . ZARAN (Zambia AIDSLaw Research and Advocacy Network) lobby for rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Despite their shortage of staff ZARAN have had success in pressuring the Zambian Government in improving the situation for sufferers, particularly in relation to employment rights. His input was to advise them how to lobby Zambian Members of Parliament more effectively and how to maximise media coverage for their work. On the final says of the trip Mark visited the Cheshire home for physically disabled children, sponsored by the Alan Kerins foundation.

Since March 2005, over three quarters of a million Euro has been raised on behalf of the Alan Kerins African Projects, the money is invested by the Cheshire Home, run by Sr Cathy Crawford, into a variety of essential projects and services. A food programme for the sick and elderly helped ease the threat of famine. At the drought’s height, the food deliveries reached 700 starving families.

One of the small but most important achievements of 2008 was to arrange for Alan Keirns to get a one year leave of absence from the HSE. Through the generosity of others Alan’s wages were paid for the year so that he can help those who cannot help themselves.

Mark continues to aid the Alan Kerins African Projects in any way he can.

For more information on the Alan Kerins African Projects click here

To read Mark's Zambia Blog click here

The Alan Kerins African Projects propose to develop a Sports, Recreation and Training Centre for children and youth in Kaoma, Zambia. This multi-functional facility will create a unique opportunity for young people in the western province of Zambia. The main objectives of the centre will be to improve access to information, recreation and training for children and young people in the area and to improve opportunities for civic engagement.

The centre will be youth-led and involve full collaboration with the local community. As part of the programme it is intended to establish an information centre which will serve to increase awareness of the potential risks of HIV and how to protect against it. The aim is to combine youth leadership and developmental education to provide a real opportunity for young people to engage in leadership training and active civic engagement so that they can consciously and actively contribute to their own development and to the development of society.