Its goal is to help girls and young women who are spend most of their lives on the street and so are highly vulnerable to HIV, to gain access to HIV testing and to receive vital social, medical and legal assistance. The project is implemented by the global health and human rights organization HealthRight International, with the generous financial support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which is supported by the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation.

Estimates place the number of children and young people living on the streets of Ukraine, mostly within big cities, at anywhere between 20,000-100,000.

Sir Elton John, founder of one of the biggest foundations fighting AIDS and Elena Pinchuk, founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation, presented to media their new project and gave a brief update about the results to date of their three-year cooperation in Ukraine.

"We want to help thousands of girls to come up from the basements where they are cold, where they are exposed to violence, get infected with HIV and give birth. We want to bring them back to life. And we want them to know that a new life is possible. With the help of the project's centre, and advice from psychologists, help from medical workers and lawyers, this is possible", - said the founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation Elena Pinchuk.

The two and a half year project, which is coordinated by the two Foundations and HealthRight, began in Kiev in February 2010, with the goal of building Ukrainian systems, capacity, and commitment to improve access to vital social, medical, and legal services for girls and young women who are vulnerable to HIV.

The project is designed to help homeless and street-involved girls and young women between the ages of 14 and 24, including those who are deprived of parental care; graduates of orphanages; living in crisis shelters, internats or vocational schools; recently incarcerated; or involved in sex work. This population is at very high risk of HIV infection, and lacks access to medical, psychological and psychosocial care due to stigma and discrimination, financial barriers, and lack of legal residency or identity documents.

In April 2010, the project established the HealthRight Service Center for Girls and Women, in partnership with the Kiev City Center of Social Services for Family, Children and Youth. This partnership ensures the project's sustainability beyond the involvement of EJAF and EPAAF. During the past 18 months, more than 500 girls and young women have received care in the Service Center, which includes psychological, psychosocial and legal counseling; basic medical services, with referral for more advanced care; HIV-prevention education; facilitated access to drug rehabilitation, housing and state entitlements; assistance accessing education and employment; and support reestablishing communication with family members. All Service Center clients have access to HIV counseling, testing and referral, and 231 girls and women have been tested, with 47 (20%) testing HIV-positive. Thirty-nine of those testing positive have registered at the City AIDS Center thus far, including those who do not have identity documents. To enhance access for vulnerable youth, HealthRight also developed a referral network, which currently includes 43 state and non-governmental service providers.

The spread of HIV infection among the street children and youth in Ukraine

In 2008, HealthRight International jointly with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and with support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, conducted a survey on HIV prevalence and risk behaviors among street children and youth, ages 15-24, in Kiev, Odessa, and Donetsk. Research data showed alarmingly high levels of HIV infection among this population in all of three cities: Kiev - 18.7%, Odessa - 26.7%, Donetsk - 9.8%. Many of those who participated in the study were half-orphans or double orphans: Kiev - 49%, Odessa - 60%, Donetsk - 59%. Street girls and young women, who accounted for 24% of children and young people in the study, were found to be a particularly vulnerable subgroup of street youth. Many reported having more than one sexual partner at a time, and a significant number had been forced to have sex at least once. At the time of the study, some of the study participants were pregnant, but had no access to medical care and psychological support.

"Protecting young women and girls is the key to ending the AIDS epidemic around the globe" commented Sir Elton John, Founder of EJAF. "Their physical, social and economic vulnerability to sexual exploitation and hence HIV makes it essential to find additional ways to support and protect them. This programme does just that".

The results of the "Children Plus" Project

The joint project of the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation called "Children Plus" has been already working in Ukraine for three years. The goal of this five-year project which is implemented by the All Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV is to improve the lives of children born to HIV-positive mothers; integrate them into their social environment, change society's attitude towards these children and help them move from orphanages to foster families, new parents and guardians.

"Children Plus", a five year project, was launched in February 2008. It is implemented in 11 regions of Ukraine. Specialist technical support on disclosing HIV-positive diagnosis between parents and their children is provided by the Romanian Angel Appeal; one of the foremost agencies in Europe in this area. The financial input of the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation is 2,5 mln USD. The Elton John AIDS Foundation provides financial and management oversight and resources and secured an additional 500,000 from the UK's Big Lottery Fund.

Critical to the progrmame is supporting vulnerable families to prevent their collapse and the ultimate institutionalization of children. To date the project has prevented the institutionalisation of 1 442 children (the goal by 2013 is 1 500 children) with HIV-positive parents from families in crisis. These children have stayed with their biological families due to the help of psychologists, social workers, and lawyers, who have collectively provided case management for the family and engaged children's parents in self-support groups and parenting schools.

Additionally 104 HIV positive orphans have been found new families (exceeding the project end goal of 96 children by 2013).

893 children have gone through the process of "status disclosure" (by 2013 this is set to rise to 1 000 children) which is critical to treatment adherence and life long self esteem and responsible sexual behaviour.

To reduce stigma against HIV in schools, 2 675 teachers from child care institutions have been trained on HIV/AIDS (by 2013 3 000 teachers will be trained). This is progressively reducing stigma and discrimination against children at schools and child care institutions who are affected or infection with HIV/AIDS.

The project is implemented in 11 regions: Cherkassy, Kharkov, Odessa, Poltava, Sumy, Nikolayev, Makeyevka, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Chernigov and Donetsk.

The Funders:

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) (http://www.ejaf.com/ one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations supporting innovative HIV/AIDS prevention education programs and direct care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS. Since its founding in 1993, EJAF has raised over $225 million to support its programs in 55 countries around the globe. The Foundation currently manages a porfolio of £27m live projects in 11 countries, providing services to over 1m people. The Foundation supports its work, by organizing special events, individual marketing projects, voluntary contributions of individuals, organizations and foundations. For more information please contact: Anne Aslett, Executive Director,[email protected]

The ANTIAIDS Foundation (www.antiaids.org) was founded by Elena Pinchuk in 2003. Today this is the first and sole charitable organization committed to fighting against AIDS in Ukraine operating on private donations. During eight years of its work the Foundation deals constantly with the problems of the HIV-positive children.

15 deposit accounts with the sum of 5 000 USD were opened by the Foundation for the families that adopted HIV-positive children.

A house and an apartment were bought by the Foundation to improve living conditions of two families that adopted eight HIV-positive children in Makeyevka.

The Foundation supports the orphanages with HIV-positive children reconstructing them, buying pieces of furniture and equipment for the orphanages in Kiev ("Berezka") and Kharkov ("Zeleniy Gai"), repairing and rendering financing the Makeyevka specialized orphanage and the infectious disease clinic of the Kiev maternity hospital where HIV-positive women stay.

The Foundation helps the orphanages in Odessa and Belaya Tserkov, children's centre in Zaporozh'ye, Dnepropetrovsk and Nikolayev, infectious disease clinic and department for HIV/AIDS disease treatment in Kiev and Chernigov, the Ukrainian Children's Cardiac Center. The Foundation organized office day care center for children with HIV/AIDS in Kyiv City AIDS Center. Also five mobile clinics were purchased and equipped to grant thousands of HIV-positive children with regular access to the qualified help of pediatricians and infectiologists in the most distant areas, in Nikolayev, Odessa, Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Kiev regions and in the Crimea.

For detailed information, please, contact Pavel Piminov, Communications Director, Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation on e-mail: [email protected]. Contact phone number: +38 (044) 490 4805. Fax: +38 (044) 490 4885.

Implementing Organisations:

HealthRight International is a global health and human rights organization working to build lasting access to health for excluded communities. We work closely with communities and establish local partnerships to deliver health services. At the same time, we provide training and equipment and improve systems to enable our partners to deliver services on their own. Our goal is to create lasting change that supports access to health while strengthening human rights.

Our projects address health and social crises made worse by human rights violations, with a particular focus and expertise on:

• HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria, including the rights of people living with these diseases to care, and protection from stigma and discrimination.

• Women's health, including women's right to information and equal access to protection and quality care, including safe and effective maternal and neonatal care.

• The health and welfare of orphans and other at-risk children and youth, whose wellbeing may be endangered when they lack supportive families or social networks.

• Care and support for survivors of human rights violations such as torture, trafficking, and domestic and gender-based violence.

Since its founding in 1990 by the late Dr. Jonathan Mann, HealthRight has worked in over 30 countries, with current projects in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the United States.

For more information, please contact Halyna Skipalska, Ukraine Country Director, HealthRight International:[email protected].

"Children Plus", a five year project, was launched in February 2008. It is implemented in 11 regions of Ukraine. Specialist technical support on disclosing HIV-positive diagnosis between parents and their children is provided by the Romanian Angel Appeal; one of the foremost agencies in Europe in this area. The financial input of the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation is 2,5 mln USD. The Elton John AIDS Foundation provides financial and management oversight and resources and secured an additional 500,000 from the UK's Big Lottery Fund.

Critical to the progrmame is supporting vulnerable families to prevent their collapse and the ultimate institutionalization of children. The project has prevented the institutionalisation of 1 872 children with HIV-positive parents from 1 381 families in crisis. These children have stayed with their biological families due to the help of psychologists, social workers, and lawyers, who have collectively provided case management for the family and engaged children's parents in self-support groups and parenting schools.

Additionally 119 HIV positive orphans have been found new families.

1 326 children have gone through the process of "status disclosure". which is critical to treatment adherence and life long self esteem and responsible sexual behaviour. The status was disclosured for 1 101 children.

To reduce stigma against HIV in schools, 4 017 teachers from child care institutions have been trained on HIV/AIDS (201 training). This is progressively reducing stigma and discrimination against children at schools and child care institutions who are affected or infection with HIV/AIDS.

The project is implemented in 11 regions: Cherkassy, Kharkov, Odessa, Poltava, Sumy, Nikolayev, Makeyevka, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Chernigov and Donetsk.

For detailed information, please contact Pavel Piminov, Communications Director the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation: +380 44 490 4805, [email protected].

Элтон Джон поддержал революционный для Украины проект «Звезды на продажу», выставив на благотворительный on-line аукцион два своих лота. Первый лот - уникальные очки, созданные специально для певца его другом, партнером СПИД Фонда Элтона Джона, дизайнером Тамарой Мелон - основателем и идейным вдохновителем бренда Jimmi Choo. Эти очки были выпущены всего в двух экземплярах, и один из них достанется победителю торгов. Второй лот, два билета в партер и экскурсия в святая святых - за кулисы киевского концерта, будет выставлен на торги с понедельника. Победитель торгов по этому лоту будет единственным гостем, который сможет увидеть изнутри концертную кухню артиста.

Информация о презентации нового проекта СПИД Фонда Элтона Джона и Фонда Елены Пинчук «АНТИСПИД» будет обнародована в начале ноября. Сейчас два фонда уже реализуют в Украине совместный пятилетний проект «Дети плюс», который направлен на улучшение жизни детей, рожденных ВИЧ-позитивными матерями, интегрирование их в социальную среду, изменение отношения общества к таким детям и помощь им в переходе из детских домов в приемные семьи, к новым родителям и опекунам.

О проекте «Звезды на продажу»:

Аукцион «Звезды на продажу» стартовал 14 марта 2011 года в партнерстве с сайтом Korrespondent.net. За это время на on-line торгах было продано 40 лотов, которые принесли в копилку проекта более полумиллиона гривен на новейшее оборудование по очистке донорской крови для Киевского областного центра крови. Торги проходят на сайте Aukro.ua.

По призыву Фонда Елены Пинчук «АНТИСПИД» знаменитые украинские и зарубежные спортсмены, музыканты, дизайнеры и телеведущие объединились, чтобы принять участие в беспрецедентном для Украины благотворительном on-line аукционе «Звезды на продажу». Они выставили на продажу свое время и свой талант, чтобы собрать средства на новейшее оборудование по очистке донорской крови. Благодаря этому оборудованию тысячи людей, которые нуждаются в переливании крови, будут защищены от инфицирования ВИЧ и многими другими опасными инфекциями.

Самыми дорогими лотами первого этапа стали «Гольф с Андреем Шевченко» - 250 тысяч гривен, «Урок вокала от Джамалы» - 50 тысяч гривен и «Фоторепортаж со Светланой Лободой» - 25 тысяч гривен.

Также свое время и свой талант выставили на продажу Потап и Настя Каменских, Ирина Билык, Ани Лорак, Ольга Сумская, Александр Пономарев, Руслана Лыжичко, Влад Яма, Виталий Козловский, Гайтана, Лилия Пустовит, Маша Ефросинина, Юрий Горбунов, Александр Педан, Нестор Шуфрич, Руслана Писанка, Анфиса Чехова, Василий Вирастюк, Ирина Бережная, Лилия Подкопаева, Екатерина Серебрянская, Ольга Фреймут, братья Борисенко, Снежанна Егорова и Антон Мухарский, Игорь Посыпайко, Алексей Мочанов, Михаил Поплавский, Сергей Кузин, главный редактор Elle Соня Забуга, Константин Стогний, Георгий Шеварднадзе, Дмитрий Коляденко, группы Алиби и СМС.

На средства, собранные в ходе аукциона «Звезды на продажу», Фонд Елены Пинчук «АНТИСПИД» приобретет для Киевского областного центра крови уникальное обеззараживания донорской крови - первый в Украине аппарат INTERCEPT. Он обеспечивает стопроцентную очистку от различных вирусов и бактерий, находящихся в тромбоцитах и плазме, которые угрожают безопасности донорской крови. Пост-дезинфекция позволяет сохранить кровь, снизить уровень ее выбраковывания (сейчас это от 7% до 25%) и уменьшить процент доноров, которые отстраняются от сдачи крови (до 10% доноров).

Появление такого аппарата в Украине позволит обеспечить чистой кровью, в первую очередь, государственные клиники. На сегодня Киевский областной центр крови является поставщиком продукции крови в 11 клиник города Киева.

Такое оборудование уже работает в Европе - в частности, во Франции, Германии и Швейцарии. В соседней России работает уже более 50 таких аппаратов. Благодаря Фонду Елены Пинчук «АНТИСПИД», селебритиз и каждому, кто примет участие в аукционе и «купит» свою звезду, в Украине такое оборудование впервые появится в сентябре 2011 года.

По статистике каждая семья хотя бы раз в жизни сталкивается с необходимостью переливания крови или компонентов крови. В донорской крови может нуждаться человек, попавший в ДТП или ставший жертвой пожара, получивший бытовую или производственную травму; женщина, которая потеряла много крови при родах; человек с онкологическим заболеванием. К сожалению, государственная система тестирования донорской крови слаба и несовершенна. Часто люди, которые постоянно нуждаются в компонентах и препаратах крови, при их получении заражаются гепатитами, герпесом, сифилисом, есть случаи инфицирования ВИЧ и другими не менее опасными инфекциями. По неофициальным данным, 90% людей, которые лечатся от гемофилии, то есть регулярно получают дозу тромбоцитов в процессе лечения, заражаются гепатитами разных форм.

For the first time since the ceremony's inception, the award was presented to representatives from Eastern Europe. The honorees for the event also included Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, DreamWorks Studio producer and co-founder; and Tamara Mellon, founder and chief creative officer of the Jimmy Choo brand.

An Enduring Vision is an annual charitable event established by Sir Elton John and David Furnish in 2001 to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and to recognize individuals who have been generous friends of EJAF and who have made outstanding contributions to the fight against AIDS. Previous recipients of the EJAF Enduring Vision Award include: 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton; actress Sharon Stone; rock-star Ozzy Osbourne; and Chopard Co-President Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, among others.

Event Chairs for the evening included film director Steven Spielberg and producer David Geffen, DreamWorks studio founders; designer Donna Karan; Evelyn and Leonard Lauder, chairman of the board of Estée Lauder, who received EJAF's Enduring Vision Award in 2009; Revlon company owner Ronald Perelman; and other outstanding individuals. Attendees included M.A.C President John Dempsey; actors Hugh Jackman, Christina Ricci, Joanne Woodword and Cheyenne Jackson; artist Terence Koh; directors Baz Lurhmann and Cameron Crowe; and musicians Tony Bennett and Debbie Harry.

The charitable gala dinner, which raised over $2.1 million, was hosted by CNN anchor, Emmy award winning journalist, and best-selling author Anderson Cooper. The evening featured a concert performance by Sir Elton John and his special musical guest, iconic singer and composer Leon Russell. The two musicians released their new joint album The Union on October 19th.

In his award presentation remarks, Sir Elton John thanked Victor and Elena Pinchuk for their significant contributions to the fight against AIDS in the Ukraine and for their generous support of long-term care programs for HIV-positive people and their families.

As founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation, Elena Pinchuk stated, "Certainly it is very important to receive the award for the work already done. But further changes in the lives of those people we help will be a bigger award for me personally and for my foundation. Together with the Elton John AIDS Foundation we work to help HIV-positive orphans to find their place in the life, find their reliable and loving family. We believe that in this way we will be able to change our country, change its future."

"Children Plus", a joint five-year project of the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation and EJAF, was launched in February 2008. The ANTIADS Foundation invested $2.5 million in the project, and EJAF brought in an extra $1 million from the Big Lottery Fund.

The ANTIAIDS Foundation (www.antiaids.org) was founded by Elena Pinchuk in 2003 (Elena Franchuk at that time). This is the first and only charitable organization committed to the fight against AIDS in Ukraine operating on private donations. The Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation works at all social levels, from national programs to direct support of people affected by AIDS epidemic. Foundation's programs include national media campaigns; large-scale educational events headlined by world-renowned celebrities; fund-raising projects; and policy work with important opinion leaders. The ANTIAIDS Foundation's programs attract the participation of HIV/AIDS experts from around the world and leverage the support and involvement of famous Ukrainians to help address the challenges of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Ukraine.

Since its inception, the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation has invested more than $8 million in HIV/AIDS projects in the Ukraine and provided assistance to more than 100 health and child facilities serving over 1,044 patients. The Foundation has organized several large-scale charitable events in the Ukraine, including Sir Elton John's concert in Kiev at Maydan Nezalezhnosty in 2007, and the Queen + Paul Rodgers concert in Kharkov at Freedom Square in 2008. The Foundation's HIV/AIDS media campaigns on Ukrainian TV channels has been estimated to have a commercial value of $60 million by media experts. In addition, the Foundation's educational programs have provided life-saving HIV prevention information to millions of people since 2003. During this period, the rate of new HIV cases in the Ukraine decreased from 15.6% in 2005 to 5% in 2009.

Today the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation partners with the Clinton Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation to support HIV prevention programs in the Ukraine. In 2010, Elena Pinchuk was appointed to the UNAIDS High Level Commission on HIV Prevention in recognition of her leadership in this field.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) was established in the United States in 1992 (EJAF-US) and in the United Kingdom in 1993 (EJAF-UK) by founder and chairman Sir Elton John. Together, both entities have raised over $220 million for worthy programs in 55 countries around the globe since inception. Today, EJAF is one of the world's leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS organizations supporting innovative HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and direct care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. EJAF-US's current grant-making priorities target HIV prevention programs in the Southern United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America; HIV prevention and care services for highly marginalized and vulnerable populations; and HIV/AIDS prevention education and the promotion of sexual health for adolescents. For more information, please visit www.ejaf.org.

The overall goal of the project is to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on children infected with or severely affected by HIV/AIDS in Ukraine, from early childhood through to teenage years. This includes ensuring such children are not ostracised or discriminated against in society; changing public attitudes towards them, particularly in schools, and helping them to move from orphanages to adoptive, fostering and guardianship families.

A press conference was held with the participation of world rock star Elton John, the founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation Elena Pinchuk and head of the coordinating council of All-Ukrainian Network people living with HIV, Vladimir Zhovtyak. The project implementers described how the lives of hundreds of HIV-positive children have changed over the past eighteen months.

The five-year project started in February 2008 Today it works in ten regions of Ukraine. "Children Plus - Improving the Lives of Families Affected and Infected by HIV" Project is implemented by All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH in a partnership with Elena Pinchuk ANTIADS Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation.

Elton John has arrived in Makeyevka, to highlight the needs of HIV-positive children and to change attitude of society towards kids living with HIV/AIDS. This is his second visit to Ukraine on Elena Pinchuk's invitation, but the first purely in his capacity as Founder and Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. His previous visit was in 2007, when the ANTIAIDS Foundation organized a free grand charity Elton John concert in Independence Square. This concert marked the beginning of cooperation between the two funds.

'There was a time when it felt like each new national HIV epidemic failed to learn the lessons of the countries that came before them.

I am proud that this programme is using successful global learning to accelerate action in Ukraine. I salute the government ministries that have embraced this project and thank the EFAA, the Network, RAA and Big Lottery Fund for their commitment to giving Ukraine's AIDS-affected children a future.' - said Elton John.

Elena Pinchuk, founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation: "We're doing this project with hope. We hope that "Children plus" will find them reliable and loving family. We hope that society won't reject them. We hope that people who adopt HIV-positive children won't be socially outcast as it often happens today. We hope that they will be treated as heroes because they're real heroes".

The project has already been implemented for seventeen months. To date 36 HIV-positive orphans have been placed in adoptive, fostering and guardianship (by 2013 this number will rise to 96 children) and 52 children have gone through the process of ‘status disclosure' (by 2013 it will make 1 000 children). Children's lives can be severely affected by how they learn that either they, or their parent is living with a life threatening and highly stigmatised illness such as HIV. Status disclosure is a complex step-by-step process requiring patience from parents and good training by multidisciplinary teams. The Romanian Angel Appeal has had extensive experience in this area and has devised a clear process, training and evaluation materials. Ukrainian psychologists trained in this methodology teach HIV infected families how to provide psychological and emotional support to their children.

To reduce stigma against HIV in schools, 788 teachers from child care institutions have been trained on HIV / AIDS (by 2013 3 000 teachers will be trained). Additionally, project staff have prevented the institutionalisation of 492 children (by 2013 it will make 1 500 children) with HIV-positive parents from families in crisis. These children have stayed with their biological families due to the help of psychologists , social workers, and lawyers, who have collectively engaged children's parents in self-support groups and parenting schools.

The project is managed by the AUkN and implementing by partners in 10 regions: Makeyevka, Cherkassy, Kharkov, Melitopol, Odessa, Poltava, Sevastopol, Simferopol, Sumy and Nykolaev. The financial input of Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation is 2,5 mln USD. Additional 500,000 pounds were attracted by the Elton John AIDS foundation through the Big Lottery Fund.

Children and HIV / AIDS epidemic in Ukraine

Last year, 3 635 children were born to HIV-positive mothers (3 430 children - in 2007 and 2 822 children - in 2006). Since registration of HIV/AIDS cases began in Ukraine in 1987, 22 534 children have been born to HIV-positive mothers. As of January 1 2009, 7 985 children born to HIV-positive mothers were registered at clinics, 1 968 of which have a confirmed HIV diagnosis, with a further 6 017 children waiting for confirmation of HIV status post-18 months. It is estimated that 11% of HIV-positive mothers abandon their children immediately after birth. This has contributed to some 481 HIV-positive children being placed in orphanages.

The Funders:

The Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation has been constantly dealing with HIV-positive children during six years of its work. The Foundation opened 15 deposits of $ 5,000 for families who had adopted HIV-positive children. It bought a house and an apartment for two foster families, who had adopted eight HIV-positive children in Makeyevka. The Foundation consistently helps the orphanages, where HIV-positive children live. This includes the reconstruction, purchase of furniture and equipment for orphanage in Kiev («Berezka») and in Kharkov («Zelenyy Guy»): andthe repair and support of a specialized orphanage in Makeyevka and an infectious disease unit of Kyiv City Center of Reproductive and Prenatal Medicine, support of orphanages in Odessa and Belaya Tserkov, children's centres in Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, and Nikolaev, HIV / AIDS treatment units of infectious hospitals in Kiev and Chernigov, the Centre for Children's Cardiology and Cardiosurgery. The Foundation has also supported the establishment of a day care room for HIV-positive children in Kiev City AIDS Centre, as well as the mobile clinics to help HIV + children who live in remote districts in the regions of Nikolayev, Odessa, Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Kiev and in the Crimea.

For detailed information, please contact Pavel Piminov, Communications Director the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation: +380 44 490 4805, [email protected].

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) (www.ejaf.org) is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations supporting innovative HIV/AIDS prevention education programs and direct care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS. Since its founding in 1992, EJAF has raised over $160 million to support more than 1000 programs in 55 countries around the globe. It has also leveraged a further $350 million in co-funding. Work with children includes provision of shelter, food and access to education and healthcare to over 200,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa; establishing child care centres in Ukraine in collaboration with the All Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS and putting over 20,000 HIV-infected children on antiretroviral treatment.

For more information contact: Anne Aslett, Director, [email protected].

The Big Lottery Fund (www.biglotteryfund.org.uk) distributes half of all National Lottery good cause funding across the UK. The Fund aims to enable others to make real improvements to the lives of disadvantaged people and the wellbeing of communities, through fair and open funding of people, projects and programmes.

Implementing Organisations:

The All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH (www.network.org.ua) is a charitable community-based organization of people living with HIV/AIDS that have been working in Ukraine since 2001. The All-Ukraine Network is dedicated to fighting the HIV epidemic in Ukraine, regionally and internationally and believes that People Living with HIV and AIDS should be central to the formation of policy, the development of services and the monitoring of implementation. The All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH is the winner of the International "Red Ribbon Award" 2006 which was given for its achievements in overcoming stigma and discrimination towards HIV-positive people. The All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH is co-Principal Recipient of the Global Fund AIDS TB and Malaria in Round 6th call for proposals.

Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation (RAA) (www.raa.ro) is a non-governmental organization working since 1991 to improve the quality of life of children and youth affected by chronic diseases, discrimination and social exclusion. The Fund is one of the main Romanian providers of medical services, social assistance and psychological support for children and young people living with HIV / AIDS. The organization has been certified to provide constant medical education. Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation is the principal recipient of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Round 6.

In the coming five years project will cover 11 regions of Ukraine. It will be coordinated by All-Ukrainian Network of people living with HIV in a partnership with Romanian Angel Appeal.

Donors of this project are Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation and British charitable foundation The Big Lottery Fund.

“Children affected by the AIDS epidemic are waiting for our help. Our new partnership project is designed for such children. These kids require special care because their future and future of their coevals depend on what they know about disease. This project appeals to improve the quality of life of children affected by the epidemic. One of its pluses is that our efforts will help child not only survive but to live with the diagnosis. In the context of our partnership the model of work with children involved in the epidemic will be created and polished. It will help to make these children a part of our society”, – Elena Pinchuk, Founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation, said during the launch’ meeting.    

First this project was announced in June, 2007 the day before Sir Elton John charitable concert on Maidan Nezalejnosti. It appealed to draw attention to the AIDS problem in Ukraine. Then Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation announced about 2,5 million dollars donation for EJAF’ project aimed to help children affected by HIV/AIDS epidemic. The idea of this project is to attract in Ukraine the best international experience in the work with HIV-positive children, their parents and teachers. Its main goal is to advocate rights of these children, to improve their quality of life and make them happy. Elton John AIDS Foundation attracted additional financing for this project – one million dollars from the biggest British charitable foundation The Big Lottery Fund.

Elena Pinchuk , Founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation, Anne Aslett, International development Director of the EJAF, Dmytro Sherembey, Director of Policy and Advocacy Department of All-Ukrainian Network of people living with HIV, Oksana Bryzhovata, Head of the Programs and Projects Department of All-Ukrainian Network of people living with HIV, Ioanna Dragan, Coordanator of Educational and Advisory Programs of Romanian Angel Appeal were the speakers at the meeting on the subject of the children involved in AIDS epidemic with partners and media in Premier Palace Hotel.

During five years All-Ukrainian Network of people living with HIV in a partnership with Romanian Angel Appeal that accumulated great experience in the work with HIV-positive children and their families will conduct individual and family consultations, “parents school”, self-support groups for crisis families, provide legal assistance and social support of trainings for vulnerable families.

They will train social workers and psychologists for the work with foster families and HIV-positive children in the orphanages. As the world experience shows search and training of the future foster parents and children for adoption will be one of the most complicated areas of this project. 

Child’s future very often depends on the way he learnt about his status. How to teach parents to talk with child about his diagnosis? How to help child to live with HIV? How to take care of him? Teams of social workers, psychologists, doctors and parents-consultants will work to answer these questions.     

Starting from 1987 17 077 children were born to HIV-positive mothers. 11% of these children were abandoned right after delivery. 5 412 children are registered today in the AIDS center. 1 654 children have confirmed HIV diagnosis, 481 of them are orphans. During 20 years of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine only 17 children were adopted. Street children are not reflected in this statistic. According to the experts’ estimation from 40 000 up to 300 000 children are living and working on the streets today, 115 000 are probably HIV-infected. 80% of HIV-positive children live in the families, but this figure doesn’t mean their good conditions of life – 70% of such children are born in disadvantaged families, 10% of them have one or both parents – alcohol and drug dependant or prisoners. Almost all parents have HIV-positive status. Only 20% of the families are able to provide their child with adequate ration, living essentials and toys. According to the World Bank’ forecast 42 000 children will become full orphans due to HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2014 year.  

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) (www.ejaf.org) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations supporting innovative HIV/AIDS prevention education programs and direct care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS. Since its founding in 1992, EJAF has raised over $125 million to support worthy programs in 55 countries around the globe. EJAF supports its work through proceeds from special events, cause-related marketing projects, and voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

The All-Ukrainian Network of PLWHAs (www.network.org.ua) is a charitable community-based organization of people living with HIV/AIDS that have been working in Ukraine since 2001. The All-Ukraine Network is dedicated to fighting the HIV epidemic in Ukraine, regionally and internationally and believes that People Living with HIV and AIDS should be central to the formation of policy, the development of services and the monitoring of implementation. The All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH is the winner of the International “Red Ribbon Award” 2006 which was given for its achievements in overcoming stigma and discrimination towards HIV-positive people. The All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH is co-Principal Recipient of the Global Fund AIDS TB and Malaria in Round 6th call for proposals.

The Big Lottery Fund (www.biglotteryfund.org.uk) distributes half of all National Lottery good cause funding across the UK. The Fund aims to enable others to make real improvements to the lives of disadvantaged people and the wellbeing of communities, through fair and open funding of people, projects and programmes.

Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation (RAA) (www.raa.ro) is an NGO working since 1991 for improving the quality of life of children and young people in need, affected by chronic conditions, subject to discrimination and social exclusion. RAA Foundation is one of the most important Romanian providers of medical services, social assistance and psychological support for children and young people living with HIV/AIDS and a certified and recognized provider of continuing medical education. RAA is the Principal Recipient of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, grants for HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, in Round 6.

Before and during the concert 220 volunteers, mainly students, disseminated 60 thousands flayers about HIV/AIDS, 150 thousands flayers with the information about testing and counseling centers, provided by Kiev AIDS Center, and 49 thousands condoms, provided by TM DUREX.  Along with volunteers number of Ukrainian celebrities agreed to participate in condoms distribution.

“I am delighted to announce that on Saturday 16th June 2007 I will be playing to the citizens of Kiev at a free AIDS awareness concert in one of the city's most beautiful squares.

My Foundation has funded twenty-three HIV/AIDS related projects in Ukraine over the last six years totaling over $2.6 million. This concert will enable us to fund future projects for around the same amount. No one envisaged, back in the early '90s, that Eastern Europe would fall prey to such a devastating disease. It is estimated that, by 2014, there will be over one hundred thousand infected children alone of which forty two thousand will be orphaned; there is so much to be done if we are to control the relentless spread of this terrible disease.

Without the close friendship and collaboration of my two very good friends, Elena and Victor Pinchuk and their Foundations, this concert, and our future partnership, would not be possible. I would like to dedicate the concert to them and to the many Ukrainians with HIV/AIDS that they have supported”, - Elton John said.

“The Elton John concert will attract attention of society to HIV/AIDS problem in our country, - Elena Franchuk, the founder of the ANTIAIDS foundation, said. – Today it is not enough to inform about disease and ways of transmission. Today our target is to change the patterns of behavior, to teach the whole country how to live in the epoch of the AIDS epidemic”.

At the end of May the ANTIAIDS Foundation launched the new program “On The Edge”. In the context of this program Elena Franchuk and the Elton John AIDS Foundation united efforts to improve the lives of children involved in the epidemic. ANTIAIDS Foundation pledged a $2,5 million grant for 5 year program. 40 000 children will become full orphans and up to 169 thousand children will lose one of their parents due to AIDS epidemic by 2014. Most of these children will inherit HIV status from their parents. Today in Ukraine 10% of 2, 5 thousand children born by HIV-positive mothers are infected. At the same time in France only 1-2 children per year are infected in such way.

“The majority of people know about AIDS, but they don’t think it could ever be there problem, - Elena Franchuk said during the presentation of the new program “On The Edge”. – That’s why they behave as if they are below the threat. But AIDS is not a distant problem any more. It’s not a problem of risk groups as it used to be. There is no more somebody’s problem, it’s everybody’s problem from now on. It’s not true anymore to think of HIV as a disease of the most at-risk population. We should think of HIV as our disease that affects ourselves, our relatives, our friends and our neighbors. We’re all on the edge”.

On Saturday morning delegations visited Kiev Infectious Hospital, located on Kiev Pechersk Lavra territory, where they met patients living with HIV/AIDS and doctors. Foundations’ leaders were interested in detailed information about medical service, pharmacy aspects of treatment, real life stories and patients’ opinion about medical service and community’ attitude towards HIV-positive people.

Later foundations’ leaders visited “Berizka” orphanage - the only home for HIV-positive orphans. Elena Pinchuk and David Furnish, and specialists of British and Ukrainian foundations spent time with children and pedagogic staff. They also visited one of HIV-positive families in Kiev.

“It’s very important for the British specialists to understand the situation with HIV/AIDS spreading in Ukraine, - David Furnish said. – It’s important to understand the problem through details and feelings of people suffering from this terrible disease, but not through statistic. We need it, first of all, to determine the most effective means of fight against AIDS and help those in need. I strongly believe the join efforts of our Foundation and Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation will help to find new families for these children and adapt them for society”.

In Elena Pinchuk’ opinion “attracting international experience is vital as HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine caused mainly because of absence of experience and knowledge. Our joint work will allow EJAF to expand their activities in Ukraine. And it’s very positive moment as Sir Elton Foundation is one of the biggest AIDS organizations in the world. This Foundation accumulated huge experience in the field of help to HIV-positive children”.

Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation and Elton John AIDS Foundation’ joint project will be realized in the context of the new program “On The Edge”. Elena Pinchuk Foundation pledged $2, 5 million grant for the 5 year program aimed at helping children involved in HIV/AIDS epidemic. The main goal is to adapt HIV-positive children in the society. The project intended to help them to live with their status the complete life. From the other hand, it teaches community to accept such children as the full members of the society. The project objected to find foster families for all children that became victims of HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Since its founding, EJAF has raised over $125 million to support worthy programs in 55 countries around the globe. EJAF supports its work through proceeds from special events, cause-related marketing projects, and voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

EJAF reviews and awards grants to worthy projects worldwide and also participates in a partnership with the National AIDS Fund (NAF) to provide challenge grants to NAF member community organizations domestically that must be matched two to one as an incentive to leverage additional local support for their work from other sources.

EJAF focuses on supporting community-based prevention education programs, harm reduction programs, and direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially populations with special needs. These efforts include HIV/AIDS-related physical and mental health services, HIV testing and counseling, street outreach and education, food distribution, assisted living services, social service coordination, and community volunteer recruitment and support.

In 2005, the U.S. reached a new milestone in the HIV/AIDS epidemic – the number of Americans living with this disease topped 1 million. Worldwide last year, over 3.1 million people died from AIDS; over 570,000 of them were under the age of 15 – that’s one child dying every minute. Clearly, current public and private sector prevention responses are inadequate to stop new HIV infections. More importantly, studies show that the epidemic is being driven by several key factors in core populations, which, if properly addressed, could significantly slow the spread of the disease. We need realistic, science-based approaches to HIV prevention, and we need them now.

Last year, EJAF conducted a strategic review of its grant-making programs and the status of the AIDS epidemic domestically and internationally. Armed with this data, EJAF is leading the way with new funding initiatives targeting HIV prevention in poor communities of the Southern U.S. and the Caribbean, among young people, among gay black men, among injection drug users, and among people newly released from prison. Because of EJAF’s strong history and reputation as an HIV prevention grant-maker, the Foundation is uniquely able to leverage additional funding for the programs and organizations EJAF supports through its challenge-grant partnership with NAF.

Reginald Kenneth Dwight, 25 March 1947, Pinner, Middlesex, England. At the age of four, the young Dwight started taking piano lessons. This launched a talent that via the Royal Academy Of Music led him to become the most successful rock pianist in the world, one of the richest men in Britain and one of the world's greatest rock stars.

Dwight formed his first band Bluesology in the early 60s and turned professional in 1965 when they secured enough work backing touring American soul artists. Long John Baldry joined the band in 1966, which included Elton Dean on saxophone and Caleb Quaye on lead guitar. As the forceful Baldry became the leader, John became disillusioned with being a pub pianist and began to explore the possibilities of a music publishing contract. Following a meeting set up by Ray Williams of Liberty Records at Dick James Music, the shy Dwight first met Bernie Taupin, then an unknown writer from Lincolnshire. 

Realizing they had uncannily similar musical tastes they began to communicate by post only, and their first composition "Scarecrow" was completed. This undistinguished song was the first to bear the John/Taupin moniker; John had only recently adopted this name, having dispensed with Reg Dwight in favour of the more saleable title borrowed from the first names of his former colleagues Dean and Baldry.

In 1968 John and Taupin were signed by Dick James, formerly of Northern Songs, to be staff writers for his new company DJM Records at a salary of £10 per week. The songs were slow to take off, although Roger Cook released their "Skyline Pigeon" and Lulu sang "I've Been Loving You Too Long" as a potential entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. One hopes that John was not too depressed when he found that "Boom-Bang-A-Bang" was the song chosen in its place. While the critics liked his own single releases, none were selling. Only "Lady Samantha" came near to breaking the chart, which is all the more perplexing as it was an excellent, commercial-sounding record. In June 1969 Empty Sky was released, and John was still ignored, although the reviews were reasonably favourable. During the next few months he played on sessions with the Hollies (notably the piano on "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother") and made budget recordings for cover versions released in supermarkets.

Finally, his agonizingly long wait for recognition came the following year when Gus Dudgeon produced the outstanding Elton John. Among the tracks were "Border Song" and the classic "Your Song". The latter provided Elton John's first UK hit, reaching number 2, and announced the emergence of a major talent. The momentum was maintained with Tumbleweed Connection but the following soundtrack, Friends and the live 17-11-70 were major disappointments to his fans. These were minor setbacks, as over the next few years Elton John became a superstar. His concerts in America were legendary as he donned ridiculous outfits and outrageous spectacles. At one stage between 1972 and 1975 he had seven consecutive number 1 albums, variously spawning memorable hits including "Rocket Man", "Daniel", "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Candle In The Wind" and the powerful would-be suicide note, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight".

He was partly responsible for bringing John Lennon and Yoko Ono back together again in 1975, following the Madison Square Garden concert on 28 November 1974, and became Sean Lennon's godfather. In 1976 he topped the UK charts with a joyous duet with Kiki Dee, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", and released further two million-selling albums, Here And There and Blue Moves. The phenomenal pattern continued as John courted most of the rock cognoscenti. Magazine articles peeking into his luxury home revealed an astonishing wardrobe, and a record collection so huge that he would never be able to listen to all of it. In 1977 John declared that he was retiring from music, and in 1979 Taupin moved to Los Angeles as the John/Taupin partnership went into abeyance. John started writing with pianist and bandleader Tony Osborne's son, Gary. The partnership produced few outstanding songs, however. The most memorable during that time was the solo instrumental "Song For Guy", a beautiful tribute to a Rocket Records motorcycle messenger killed in a road accident.

Elton John then entered an uncomfortable phase in his life; he remained one of pop's most newsworthy figures, openly admitting his bisexuality and personal insecurities about his weight and baldness. It was this vulnerability that made him such a popular personality. His consumerism even extended to rescuing his favourite football team, Watford. He purchased the club and invested money in it, and under his patronage their fortunes changed positively. His albums and sales during the early 80s were patchy, and only when he started working exclusively with Taupin again did his record sales pick up. The first renaissance album was Too Low For Zero in 1983, which scaled the charts along with the triumphant single "I'm Still Standing'. John ended the year in much better shape and married Renate Blauel the following February. During 1985 he appeared at Wham!"s farewell concert, and the following month he performed at the historic Live Aid concert, giving a particularly strong performance as one of rock's elder statesmen. He completed the year with another massive album, Ice On Fire. In January 1986 he and Taupin contested a lengthy court case for back royalties against DJM. However, the costs of the litigation were prohibitive and the victory at best pyrrhic. Towards the end of that year John collapsed onstage in Australia and entered an Australian hospital for throat surgery in January.

During this time the UK gutter press were having a field day, speculating on John's possible throat cancer and his rocky marriage. The press had their pound of flesh when it was announced that Renate and John had separated. In 1988 he released the excellent Reg Strikes Back and the fast-tempo boogie, "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That". Meanwhile, The Sun newspaper made serious allegations against the singer, which prompted a libel suit. Considering the upheavals in his personal life and regular sniping by the press John sounded in amazingly good form and was performing with the energy of his early 70s extravaganzas. In September, almost as if he were closing a chapter of his life, Elton auctioned at Sotheby's 2000 items of his personal memorabilia including his boa feathers, "Pinball Wizard" boots and hundreds of pairs of spectacles. In December 1988, John accepted a settlement (reputedly £1 million, although never confirmed) from The Sun, thus forestalling one of the most bitter legal disputes in pop history. He appeared a sober figure, now divorced, and concentrated on music, recording two more strong albums (Sleeping With The Past and The One).

In April 1991 the Sunday Times announced that John had entered the list of the top 200 wealthiest people in Britain. He added a further £300,000 to his account when he yet again took on the UK press and won, this time the Sunday Mirror, for an alleged incident with regard to bulimia. In 1993 an array of guest musicians appeared on John's Duets, including Bonnie Raitt, Paul Young, k.d. lang, Little Richard and George Michael. Five new songs by the artist (written with Tim Rice) graced the soundtrack to 1994's Disney blockbuster, The Lion King, the accompanying album reaching number 1 in the US charts. In 1995 John confronted the media and gave a series of brave and extremely frank confessional interviews with regard to his past. He confessed to sex, drugs, food and rock 'n' roll. Throughout the revelations he maintained a sense of humour and it paid him well. By confessing, his public seemed to warm further to him. He rewarded his fans with one of his best albums, Made In England, which scaled the charts throughout the world.

His career scaled new heights in September 1997 when, following the tragic death of his friend Diana, Princess Of Wales, he was asked by her family to sing at the funeral. This emotional moment was seen by an estimated 2 billion people. John's faultless performance in Westminster Abbey of a rewritten "Candle In The Wind" was entirely appropriate. Subsequently released as a charity record, it rapidly became the biggest-selling single of all time, overtaking Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". Buoyed by the publicity, John's 1997 album, The Big Picture, was another commercial success, and at the end of the year he was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1999, John duetted with American country star LeAnn Rimes on "Written In The Stars", a UK number 10 single in March. The single was taken from an ambitious stage adaptation of Aida by John and Tim Rice, which was rather clumsily retitled Elaborate Lives: The Legend Of Aida. The two men teamed up again the following year, with composer Hans Zimmer, to create the soundtrack to DreamWorks animated adventure, The Road To El Dorado. His first studio album of the new millennium, Songs From The West Coast, was hailed as a return to the standards set by his classic early 70s material.

With or without his now substantial wealth Elton John has kept the friendship and admiration of his friends and peers. He remains an outstanding songwriter and an underrated pianist, and together with the Beatles and Rolling Stones is Britain's most successful artist. He has ridden out all intrusions into his private life from the media with considerable dignity and has maintained enormous popularity. Above all he is still able to mock himself in down-to-earth fashion, aware of all his eccentricities.