Kenyan Gertrude Lawrence is the founder of MTAA. As head of the Mother and Child Clinic in Mumias she was confronted with the spread of Aids.
MTAA gets into touch with the village elders and chiefs to inform them about the traditions that promote the spread of Aids. Men and women in their fertile days are urged to register as a member of MTAA. Couples are jointly prepared to take an HIV test preventing mutual secrecy. If one is infected they learn how to cope with this complicated issue. MTAA trains its members and supports the improvement of the standard of living.
Presently, in eight villages, groups of men, women and the young are members of MTAA. Close groups speak freely about Aids, have themselves tested and come up with solutions to prevent infection. Joint projects have been set up such as banana plantations, water wells or keeping cattle. Members of MTAA receive plants and seeds, the group comes up with the land and looks after the crops yielding sufficient food, one of the Millennium goals of the UN. Monthly all group members put a small fee in the communal ‘pot’; this way they can ask for a financial support when the need arises.
An important side effect of these solidary groups is that persons with Aids or orphans are taken in instead of rejected, as formerly was the case. In 2015, a documentary movie was made on MTAA Kenya.
The Kenyan government is highly interested in the approach of MTAA. They provide Aids tests as well as seeds and saplings in combination with agricultural advice. Click here to learn more about the
organisation and finances of MTAA.