"While volunteering as an HIV prevention educator in a secondary school in 2003, I saw first hand how public schools did not have floors, windows, or electricity and students did not have books. I gained an understanding about the numerous challenges children have in receiving a quality education. This experience had a profound effect on my life and I became committed to improving educational opportunities in Tanzania."
-Shawn Miya, Co-Founder & Secretary of KILEO
An Epidemic
1.3 million people are living with HIV in Tanzania. There are 130,000 children living with HIV and almost 1 million children orphaned by AIDS in Tanzania. The epidemic’s severity differs widely from region to region due to the variability of access to treatment and prevention initiatives. Because access to health care and knowledge of HIV and AIDS is typically lower in rural areas, prevention efforts must be increased if new infections are going to be reduced.
Kilimanjaro Education Outreach (KILEO) is a US 501(c)3 non-profit organization who partners with local stakeholders in rural areas of Tanzania to improve quality of life by enhancing community-owned educational infrastructure, providing HIV prevention classes, and promoting volunteerism.
Our mission is vital due to the impacts of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, lack of access to books, the cost to families of providing school uniforms and supplies to their children, and the unavailability of space for children and adults to study, learn how to use computers, or come together for learning opportunities.