ANSA's Amandla* AIDS Fund (AAF) was established in 2003 with a $2.5 million donation from Carlos and Deborah Santana, the entire net proceeds of the 2003 U.S. Summer Santana Shaman tour. AAF provides grants to effective South African efforts to combat AIDS and also develops innovative, collaborative programs.

The AAF advisory board is chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and made up of leading South African HIV/AIDS experts and AIDS activists who help select effective South African organizations and programs to receive grants. In the past year, AAF has allocated and granted over $1.25 million to pivotal programs that:
  • Give free treatment and medical care to those living with HIV/AIDS;
  • Provide comprehensive assistance to children orphaned by AIDS;
  • Advocate and litigate for improved government and corporate HIV/AIDS programs and policies;
  • Provide peer and grassroots education on AIDS treatment literacy and HIV/AIDS prevention;
  • Destigmatize the disease and empower people living with HIV/AIDS;
AAF targets recipient organizations and programs, where funds are most needed and will have significant impact. Priority is given to efforts, which are:
  • Addressing great need, yet are under-funded;
  • Grassroots in nature and have a hard time accessing international support;
  • Community projects where small amounts of funding can make a significant difference;
  • Innovative, model programs which are replicable and can have far-reaching impact;
  • Helping meet the urgent need to save lives, especially the lives of those whose work is critical to saving the lives of others;
  • Maximizing resources through inter-group collaboration;
  • Successful programs that can be scaled up to increase impact and the population served.
Amandla AIDS Fund Advisory Board

* Amandla is a word in Zulu, Xhosa and other South African languages, which means strength and power. It is used as a call for empowerment for the people.




Photo: 2003 Santana/Amandla AIDS Fund Press Conference
Left to right: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Deborah Santana, and Carlos Santana
Photographer: Arnold Turner, Wire Image