Claudia A was HIV-infected woman who found herself living in the streets after being discharged from the hospital. It was her idea to start a care centre in Surinam for HIV-infected people. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see her dreams come to fulfilment, because she died in a tragic accident.
Inspirered by Claudia’s dream and her perseverance the sister Teersa Burleson and Norma Marica founded Claudia A on the first of September 1999. It started if as a walk-in centre for HIV-infected people. During the years it grew to a shelter for HIV-infected orphans and mothers.
At this moment 30 children between the age one and twenty and six grown woman are living in this shelter. They’re living in a house that’s too small and in poor shape. The children do go to school, but due to the lack of money they can’t enrol in further training. This means they have a poor future perspective. Nor is there money to have them participate in extracurricular activities like sports or theatre. Besides that, the orphanage has no funds for sufficient personnel.
By investing the raised money in a durable way, in for example tutoring, and by surrounding them with local professionals we help the B!NKIES on their way to a decent future.