We are in search for African entertainment for a Fund Raising 

event, such as drummers, singers and dancers. We hope to find 

individuals that are very passionate about this cause also and that they 

will volunteer their time in order to help make this fund raising event 

as successful as possible.

This fundraising event "Africa Journey" is being held at the Westin 

Trillium House Hotel, Blue Mountain on August 14, 2006 and is hosted by 

the Rotary Club of Collingwood and all proceeds will go directly to the 

OHAfrica Project.

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Jennifer Young is a local Collingwood doctor 

who has been working at the Tsepong Clinic for the past year as part of 

a small team of Canadian healthcare professionals sent to Lesotho by the 

OHAfrica project. An initiative to help fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in 

Africa, OHAfrica is a joint project of the Ontario Hospital Association, 

The Change Foundation, and the Lesotho Ministry of Health and Social 

Welfare.

At the Tsepong Clinic, which means Place of Hope in Lesothos national 

language of Sesotho, they are running an HIV/AIDS treatment program that 

provides life-saving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to people living with 

HIV/AIDS, and on site training of local technicians and medical staff. 

The clinic is run in partnership with the OHAfrica team from Canada and 

local staff members. Lesotho, a small country in southern Africa, has 

been deeply affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis, and an estimated 30% of all 

people between the ages of 15 to 49 are infected with the virus.

Guests will follow a Journey or Safari as they work their way through a 

little experience of Africa and into the Reception, where they will be 

entertained by African dancers, song, and drummers, and they will be 

circulating amongst the props and displays sampling African and New 

World deserts, coffee, and cocktails. This is the first theme zone of 

the event.

Along side of the main reception is the second theme zone which depicts 

the HIV/AIDS issue in Africa with particular focus on the Tsepong Clinic 

with props, displays, signage, and a looping multimedia to drive home 

the message.

Also along side of the Reception area, there will be theatre seating for 

the guests to listen to a presentation of Dr. Jennifer Young. This event 

will be well attended by the local and regional medical community, and 

is also being supported by the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.

Mr. Stephen Lewis will be making a promotional announcement of this 

event at the Annual Dinner of the Collingwood General and Marine 

Hospital Foundation in mid June.

I thank you very much for your time and consideration of my request.

Yours Truly,

Bill Brennan

OHAfrica "African Journey" Committee

Director of Fund Raising/Ways and Means

Rotary Club of Collingwood

mailto:brennan@bellnet.ca(Bill Brennan) 

Bus: 519-599-3578

Cell: 519-377-3578