Washington, DC — The Eastman Kodak Charitable Trust has granted $265,000 to support agricultural and HIV/AIDS programs in the Southern African nation of Zimbabwe. The project is expected to benefit about 35,000 people in four districts.

Africare, a Washington-based development and relief organization with programs in 27 African countries, has worked in Zimbabwe for 20 years.

The grant from Eastman Kodak will enable Africare to expand successful ongoing activities to strengthen household food security and to contain the spread of the HIV virus. Zimbabwe has one of the world's highest HIV prevalence rates--about 25 percent of all adults--and is facing its worst food shortage in living memory.

In the eastern highlands district of Mutasa, Africare will encourage men to take a more direct role in community-based caregiving for persons living with AIDS. The program will assist support groups to develop income-generating activities and empower men economically to provide food, clothing, school materials and medicines for AIDS sufferers.

In Mount Darwin and Bindura Districts, Africare will promote continued expansion of AIDS Action Clubs at primary and secondary schools. Eastman Kodak's support will go directly to establishing or strengthening nearly 30 clubs and enabling students and faculty to address both the cause and impact of HIV/AIDS among adolescents.

The Eastman Kodak grant also will help combat serious malnutrition in drought-prone Mberengwa District in southern Midlands Province, where more than 80 percent of households lack adequate food. Africare will broaden its existing extension program in the district, which is demonstrating to rural families how to supplement their diets by growing and processing sunflower oil, cassava and pigeon peas for local consumption.¨