APARA - American Pan-African Relief Agencies, Inc.

APARA’s mission is to reach out with practical and effective relief services to the distressed and underprivileged, without regard to religion, nationality, race or gender. Our services include education, medical, social and economic development and short term financial aid. We provide these services especially to children orphaned by AIDS and to children made vulnerable by AIDS, drought, famine, war and other natural disasters. In addition to these direct services, APARA works with other religious and secular organizations to carry out its mission. It is our belief that working together, we can change the world, one life at a time.

Incorporated in 1998 as the American Pan-African Relief Fund, our name was amended to the "American Pan-African Relief Agencies" in 2000 to reflect the broadened scope of our services. In 2000, APARA was presented "start off" grants from the New York Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and Ms. Elsie P. Van Buren.

The tragedies of AIDS, war, famine and drought are a two-faced evil. Aside from their death and destruction, these tragedies leave behind the indelible marks of misery and hopelessness on the faces of the living, whether young or old. The guiding premise of APARA is "what and how" we can help in such crisis situations, locally or globally. Locally, we are providing education and guidance to medical and social resources to Pan-Africans who are new immigrants to the US.

Ms. Elsa (facing camera), Program Manager for Iris House, teaches women leaders of the the New York immigrant community about AIDS prevention and testing. Another situation that is of great concern to APARA is the greatly increased influx of immigrants to the United States from all over the world. Many of these immigrants lack even elementary knowledge of the social, economical, and psychological challenges they face. The lack of knowledge is much more pronounced in immigrants from the Pan-African regions, most of who come from cultural, traditional, and educational backgrounds that make their transition to life in the United States very difficult.

We have made access to social, educational, medical and short-term financial community support for recent immigrants an essential part of our mission. APARA, collectively with city, state, federal agencies and other organizations, provides social and educational services such as English-as-a-second language (ESL), the High School equivalency degree in General Education (GED), remedial courses, job training and employment, housing and health services. We provide these services without regard to nationality, race, sex or religion.

Your generous donations to help those in need can be made by credit card or e-check online through our secure website, or by regular mail using this form. We also welcome non-financial donations of medical, educational, computer and other supplies. Please tell us about your non-financial contribution using this form. All donations will be gratefully acknowledged for tax purposes.