TINY TIM AND FRIENDS
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A SIMPLE HAMPER OF EQUIPMENT CAN CHANGE A LIFE

11/18/2018

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Mother and Baby at the TTF Clinic
Many people don't realize that it is totally possible for a woman living with HIV to have a healthy, HIV negative baby. If we can get a woman on HIV treatment early enough into her pregnancy, we can suppress the virus within her body, reducing the risk of HIV transmission to Zero. 

Over the past two years our prevention of mother to child transmission program has been 100% successful, with no child being born with HIV when we have got the mother onto treatment at least three months prior to deliver.

Many government clinics lack basic supplies for women during labor, meaning women are either denied access to the facility or have an increased risk of complications during pregnancy due to basic supplies not being available. Our birthing hampers can be life changing, being the difference between a woman giving with at home, or safely in a facility. 

Charity with her birthing hamper
Just $50 can provide a simple hamper of medical supplies, diapers, blankets, disinfectant, scalpels, gloves umbilical clips,  and chitenges (fabric), can provide the right tools at a clinical level for a mother to have a safe birth.  

None of the work we do would be possible without your support. Because of you Babies can be born HIV free. Because of you children can get onto treatment and live long healthy lives.

​HIV treatment does work and you are making it possible for people to be healthy, happy and live long lives. 

Please continue to make this work possible by donating to Tiny Tim & Friends and give the gift of good health. ​

DONATE & HELP WOMEN HAVE SAFE BIRTHS >>

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TTF BOARD VISIT - WITNESSING THE DIFFERENCE YOUR DONATIONS ARE MAKING!

4/26/2018

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TTF Board members Colleen and Tom with TTF Zambia Staff
In February 2018, TTF USA Board members Tom, Colleen, Kris along with young Tim took a trip to Zambia to reconnect with the staff and see what happening, on the ground.
​
As always the trip felt way too short, but was a great way to witness how your donations are improving  the lives of the patients at the TTF clinic. Being physically present and witnessing the work first hand really makes us feel proud of the work that is being done. We are so fortunate to see the smiling faces of the children and the changes the work of TTF is having on these vulnerable individuals’ lives. 

One of the highlights of the trip was on a clinic day, where families come in for check-ups, counselling and to pick up their medication. We were able to hand out a food package of eggs, oil, flour, beans, onion, potatoes, rice and sugar to each of the families who are in the Nutrition Program. We heard stories from the team and patients about how this program had changed children’s lives. Your donations have made this possible. 
Separating out the Kapenta (dried fish) into small bags
Staff giving out food to patients
Tom decanting the oil into containers for patients
We saw many pregnant women who are supported with information and tools to prevent the transfer of HIV to their unborn child.  Alongside medication, TTF supports these women with birthing hampers.  Just a small hamper including a nappy, cotton wool, a blanket, latex gloves, an umbilical cord clamp and disinfectant can mean the difference between birthing at home – or safely at a clinic. It was great to hear the results and successes and that in 2016 & 2017, thanks to you, ZERO babies were born HIV+.
New mum at the TTF Clinic
Pregnant woman being presented with birthing hamper
Pregnant patient with one of TTF staff
Pregnant woman being presented with Birthing hamper
The staff and the patients are so very grateful for all of the donations from you, our supporters.  Because of you, TTF is able to provide a complete package medication, nutrition, counseling and social support for entire families.  Without your help these families would not be able to live normal healthy lives. 

We continue to be grateful to all of our donors for your support. Your donations are changing lives, we have witnessed it many times first hand, but after our visit feel even more compelled to continue our work . Together we can change lives and work towards a generation where no child has HIV.
​
Thank you! ​
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help us win £10,000 - vote for our short film

4/12/2018

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Margaret working in the community
Tiny Tim & Friends has entered a film competition, Every Footstep Counts, and we need your help. 

The competition aims to showcase and celebrate the successes organisations, like Tiny Tim & Friends, are making worldwide that are integral to end mother-to-child transmission and paediatric HIV.  By following this link and voting for Tiny Tim & Friends  film, "The Power of Living Positively", you can help us to win £10,000 and the opportunity to attend the International AIDS Conference in 2018 and showcase our work to global leaders in the field of HIV. 

Vote for Tiny Tim & Friends Film and help us to win £10,000. 

The Six films with the most votes will go to a judging panel where the top two will be classified as winners. So we need your votes! 

Tiny Tim & Friends' film focuses on the work of one of our community health volunteers, Margaret. Margaret lives positively within her community, sharing her status to encourage others to access HIV testing and treatment. Through her work with the TTF Clinic she reaches out to vulnerable children and pregnant women who would have otherwise not accessed services. Every day she engages with new people, working to ensure children and pregnant women living with HIV are accessing treatment and staying in care. She continually follows TTF's Mission -  working towards a future where no child is living with HIV.   

Watch the video on the Every Footstep Counts website and vote for Tiny Tim & Friends - The Power of Positivity
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BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD....

10/18/2017

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It's the donors at Tiny Tim & Friends who are pivotal to our work. We wanted to share with you the story of one donor and why she supports our work. ​
Girl during a community outreach

GANDHI SAID "BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD", DR. TIM WAS THE CHANGE......HIS PASSION ENGAGED MY HEART"


Written by Eileen Leo, TTF Donor: 
"I will never forget how I first heard about Tiny Tim & Friends and how I came to meet Dr. Tim, his lovely parents, Betty and Tom, Tiny Tim, his terrific young son, and his wonderful siblings. 

I don’t usually read the Edina Sun newspaper, but that day I was skimming it and noticed a short article about a Fundraiser for a local non-profit, Tiny Tim & Friends, to support the work of Dr. Tim Meade, a pediatric HIV/AIDS specialist in Zambia. 

Curious to know more, I found Betty and Tom’s phone number, called, and enjoyed a lovely chat with Betty who warmly invited me to attend the fundraiser.  In listening to Dr. Tim tell the story of Tiny Tim & Friends and show photos of the children and the work they do I was captivated by his passion and zeal, the ongoing efforts of the Clinic’s team, and the amazing progress of hundreds of children when tested and begun on a regimen of medicine.  
​Dr. Tim’s presentation enlarged my world and engaged my heart.  Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  Dr. Tim was the change."  
Child on Nutritional Support
Girl during a support group
Teenagers at a support group
"Tom and Betty Meade launched Tiny Tim & Friends to support their son’s work, and to tell the world about the children in Zambia and how we can help.   They have made 7 or 8 trips to visit the clinic compound in Lusaka, Zambia!!   

Their crowning jewel is Tiny Tim, Dr. Tim’s wonderful son.  I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him a few times when he and his Dad visited “Grandma and Grandpa” who hosted  fun fundraisers every summer.  Betty and Tom’s charisma is something to be experienced!  It was infectious; I wanted to do something to help and be a part of their work. I offered to make quilts to sell at a fundraiser.   Little did I know that Tom would build a beautiful quilt rack !!! 

Many of my friends have purses, baskets, and jewelry made by talented Zambian women.  The very personal connection I felt when I found their names written on a little piece of paper in the purse, or on the bottom of a basket.  I am the richer for having the women’s beautifully woven colorful baskets in my home, for carrying their purses knitted out of colorful plastic bags,  proudly telling the story of Tiny Tim & Friends."

"please join us in being an ongoing part of the team at tiny tim......there's room for you on the path!"


Baby at the TTF Clinic
Teenagers at a teens support group
Children playing at the TTF Clinic
"I have saved every newsletter filled with clinic updates, progress celebrated, photos, interning college students who have caught Dr. Tim’s passion, ongoing concerns, new endeavors, ways to help. 
​
The bliss and the blisters.  And the blessed.  I am blessed for having known Dr. Tim.  I always wanted to go to Zambia to visit and volunteer for a month or so, maybe help in the school.  I never did go to Zambia but never will lose my heartfelt connection and commitment to the children and to Dr. Tim’s dream.  I decided to honor Dr. Tim by becoming a monthly donor and be an ongoing part of the team.   Thanks to Betty and Tom Meade, “Tiny Tim & Friends” has hundreds of people walking the path behind Dr. Tim. 

​Please join us…there’s room for you on the path.
 
For the love of children and in memory of Dr. Tim, thank you."

BECOME A REGULAR DONOR >>

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HOW 3 MONTHS OF NUTRITION CAN CHANGE A LIFE

9/29/2017

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Watch our video and see the impact our donors are having on vulnerable, malnourished children in Zambia. 
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WE NEED YOUR HELP IN SUPPORTING VULNERABLE TEENAGERS ACCESSING CARE AND TREATMENT

6/27/2017

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The staff and board at Tiny Tim & Friends are committed to continuing our work and developing programs to support even more HIV+ children and adolescents live healthy, positive lives. Our donors and supporters have enabled TTF to pilot many new interventions over the years which have allowed us to change the lives of thousands of HIV+ individuals. WE CONTINUE TO NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN CHANGING LIVES. 

Adolescent girls are twice as likely to get infected with HIV as their male counterparts. And many adolescents do not feel empowered to access contraception, do not feel empowered to ask their partner to wear use condoms, or do not know where to access contraception from in order to protect themselves from infection. ​

When some of our adolescent peer mentors came to us recently to suggest setting up youth friendly services at the TTF Clinic, we were excited to hear about their ideas.  Our aim is to support them to develop a youth focused project which could not only help us in retaining our existing adolescent patients into treatment but in identifying new patients to reach out to and providing a safe space for young people to come and access information and services.  

IT COSTS LESS THAN $7,000 TO SET UP AND RUN OUR YOUTH FRIENDLY SERVICE FOR 6 MONTHS. 

Building trust through games
Sharing stories and experiences
The purpose of the youth friendly center would be to provide youth led HIV testing, counselling, sexual reproductive health information, access to condoms and referral services for those in need of HIV treatment, or other health and counselling services. ​ We would also run community based outreach services, led by our teen mentors and youth counselors, with the purpose of encouraging HIV testing in the community around the TTF Clinic and to encourage individuals to come to the clinic for testing and information services. 

Finally the youth groups want to establish chess clubs, sports teams and activity groups to provide a much needed distraction from some of the vices, such as alcohol and drug abuse,  which are too easily accessible to the vulnerable populations we work with. ​
Adolescents at a teen support group
One of our peer mentors with children at the clinic
We are more than confident that with the right funding, and guidance from the TTF management and social work teams our peer mentors can set up services which supports adolescents in: 
  • Understanding the importance of treatment and taking medication.  
  • Attending their appointments at the TTF Clinic.
  • Accessing information on HIV, Sexual reproductive health, contraception, and counselling services.
  • Accessing HIV testing in a youth friendly environment where they feel comfortable with their peers.  
  • Breaking down some of the myths and stigma around HIV which prevents people from accessing testing. 
  • Achieving viral suppression so if/ when they become sexually active their risk of transmission is reduced to zero.
  • Finding a safe space where they can form sports teams, chess clubs or other groups to provide 

BUT WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. IT WOULD COST US LESS THAN $7,000 TO ESTABLISH AND RUN OUR YOUTH FRIENDLY CENTER FOR 6 MONTHS, DURING WHICH TIME THE YOUTH WOULD LOOK TO UNDERTAKE FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES OF THEIR OWN IN LUSAKA TO SUPPORT THEIR CONTINUED OPERATIONS. PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING OUR WORK BY DONATING TO TTF TODAY!(Please state the purpose of your donation on the donation page) 
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CELEBRATING THE NEXT TINY TIM

6/27/2017

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Dr. Tim had such a great impact on the patients and people that we work with. So when one of our community volunteers gave birth to a little boy the day after Tim passed away last year, she decided to name her new born son Tim, to pay tribute to the work he had done to help her and others living with HIV to healthy lives and have healthy HIV negative children. 
Contridah and little Tim

​"Dr. Tim was a man of action, and I hope for my son to grow up to live up to his namesake."


Contridah has been working as a volunteer with Tiny Tim & Friends since 2009. She works in the community to help identify vulnerable HIV+ children and over the years has personally brought over 130 children to TTF for HIV testing, counselling and, where needed, treatment. 

She came to volunteer with TTF as she heard about our work through one of our community volunteers who lives in the same community as her.

"When I first came to TTF and met Dr. Tim, I was impressed. Dr. Tim was a kind person and there few people who would have done the work that he did. He formed a team so that HIV+ children can be healthy and happy. I was impressed by his work and the work at TTF so wanted to be part of that, so that children who have HIV don't have to suffer."

Along with several other community volunteers, Contridah was trained by TTF to identify individuals who were sick or at risk of HIV infection, and to encourage them to access testing and treatment. By talking positively about her own status she has been able to interact with individuals in the community who would not have otherwise accessed services. 

"I try and help people realize that going to the clinic is better. I can explain how the medicine works and can help people come to terms with their status. By starting on medication you can be fit and lead a normal life. Thanks to the medicine I have been able to have two HIV negative children.

"I have always been encouraged by Tim's work, he was a man of action, and I hope for my son to grow up to live up to the name. I would love for my son to help people in the community, like Dr. Tim did. And to help people not to feel alone". 

Little Tim at work in the office
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COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT CHILDREN LIVING HEALTHILY

6/22/2017

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Clevis at the begining of the program and at month 3
In 2016 TTF ran a Crowd Funding campaign through Caring Crowd to support 50 of the most malnourished patients at Tiny Tim & Friends. Thanks to the support of 79 donors who came together to support our cause, and to Johnson & Johnson who matched every donation, we were successful in reaching our goal. 

So in early 2017 we spent time undertaking home visits, to understand the needs of our patients, and identifying those most in need of nutritional support. Finding 25 children and adolescents who were eligible was sadly not difficult. 

Many of the children were so malnourished and underweight they were suffering with opportunistic infections and alongside nutritional support also required supervised palliative care to help them get well. 
Families receiving food
Patient having their vitals taken
Supporting families with nutritional food packages is easy. But ensuring the children we are supporting are gaining weight and getting healthy is much more complex, involving regular counselling, home assessments, medical interventions and sometimes palliative care. 

Thanks to the support of 79 donors through CaringCrowd and from the hard work of our counsellors all of the  children gained weight, including one child who gained a massive 9kgs.  Stay posted for further stories of each of these children but in the meantime we hope you enjoy seeing the pictures of just a few of the children you have changed the lives of. 
Rachel who gained over 2kgs.
Francis was able to gain over 6kgs with your donations.

SUPPORT MORE MALNOURISHED CHILDREN >>
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  • Home
  • Donate Online
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • HIV/AIDS - Know the Facts
    • Our People
    • Our Partners
  • What we do
    • Who We Help
    • TTF Clinic
    • Community Outreaches
    • Counselling/ Support Groups
    • EMTCT
    • Nutritional Support
    • Palliative Care
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer opportunities
    • Fundraise for TTF
    • Give a Gift in Kind
    • Work with us
  • TTF Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact TTF Zambia
    • Contact TTF USA
    • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Donate
  • Work with us