UGA HEROs Weblog

UGA HEROs is a non-profit student organization at The University of Georgia that  supports H.E.R.O. for Children, Inc. that provides quality of life programs for children affected by HIV/AIDS in Georgia.

UGA HEROs: The Impact Starts Here

Why be a HERO?

• Over 12,000 children in Georgia are affected by HIV or AIDS.
• Georgia has the 8^th highest rate of pediatric AIDS cases in the nation.
• Of the 500 AIDS-focused organizations in the state of Georgia, only 12 focus on providing basic need items for these children.
• HERO for Children is the ONLY organization that tries to give a childhood back to these kids by providing Quality of Life care.

Who are our kids?

• 90% of our kids come from a household income of $10,000 or less.
• 50% of HERO children have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.
• Children do not only suffer physically from HIV/AIDS, they are affected mentally and socially. They have questions such as “Will I live to graduate high school?” “What will my friends think of me if they find out about my disease?” “Will I ever get married?” and “Do I have HIV/AIDS because I’m a bad person?”

Where do HERO dollars go?

• SuperHEROes Mentoring where adult community members spend at least eight hours with their “Little HERO” each month doing fun and enriching activities. The program addresses 5 key areas: HIV/AIDS information, African American culture, communication, empathetic response, and child development.
• The Rising HEROes Life Skills Program consists of 12 three hour sessions (one per month) delivered to groups of children by trained facilitators in a community based setting. The curriculum strives to:
  •  Increase their self-esteem and self-confidence.
  • Develop anger management, problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
  • Improve their communication skills with other children and with adults.
  • Develop leadership skills.
  • Develop good study habits.
  • Develop basic financial skills and awareness.
• HERO for a Day, a summertime field day event for HERO kids from Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Augusta, and Albany
• The HERO Olympics, a fall field day event organized by UGA HEROs and held in Athens for HERO kids
• Fall Festival of Fun, a fall festival for the kids hosted by Georgia Tech HEROs
• Holiday of HEROs, HERO children receive food, gifts, and essential items