PEPAIDS supports the work of the Simalelo AIDS Peer Education Programme (SAPEP), an NGO operating in Southern Zambia to alleviate poverty and HIV/AIDS

PEPAIDS’ vision is to achieve the creation of an environment which radically improves and preserves the health of people in Zambia (and beyond) through the provision of support for HIV/AIDS-related initiatives and the promotion of awareness of issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, in strong partnership with locally-run organisations.

PEPAIDS provides financial and administrative support to SAPEP for their activities including staff salaries, allowances and core operational costs.

In the UK, PEPAIDS aims to increase the awareness of the issues associated with HIV/AIDS in Zambia, and provides opportunities for students and other volunteers to observe and experience the work of SAPEP.

The History of PEPAIDS
PEPAIDS was founded by Helen Allen (nee Cottle) in 2001. Helen studied nursing at the
University of Nottingham and used her elective study placement as an opportunity to go to Zambia and see her birth town of Monze

Helen sought to gain an insight into the nature of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and observed a small HIV/AIDS programme operating from Monze. The devastating impact of the situation was contrasted with the incredible headway that the local programme was making in empowering young people and giving hope to those infected or affected of HIV/AIDS. Helen was so influenced by her experience that she decided to support the programme to continue its remarkable battle against the disease on her return to the UK.

PEPAIDS was founded in 2001 in order to support the Zambian programme financially and to raise awareness of the nature of the Sub Saharan African HIV/AIDS crisis in the UK. PEPAIDS gained registered charity status in July 2002 (no. 1093039) and in November of the same year, the Zambian programme became and official not-for-profit NGO named the Simalelo AIDS Peer Education Programme (SAPEP). PEPAIDS has been the principal funding partner of SAPEP since December 2002.

PEPAIDS is currently run on an entirely voluntary basis, but continues to develop organisationally, and is working towards being able to employ paid staff.