African Hope Committee
Clarisse Mefotso-Fall, Founder
The African Hope Committee, Inc. (AHC) was founded in 2004 to provide health education and support services to newly arrived immigrants with an emphasis on the African population. Located in Harlem, it serves as a bridge to mainstream service delivery organizations and brings attention to the devastation of HIV/AIDS in the African population especially its disproportion impact on women and children. According to the 200 United States Census, New York City has the largest African immigrant population in the country estimated at 117,000 persons.
Through direct outreach, AHC volunteers make contact with people in need of services. The organization also receives referrals from hospitals and other service providers not able to meet the needs of different African ethnic groups because of language, social and cultural barriers, after an initial needs assessment, AHC provides one-on-one counseling and direction to appropriate social services including food and clothing distribution, domestic violence assistance, TB and other health testing, GED and English as a Second Language classes and immigration services. AHC also provides workshops on HIV/AIDS prevention, maternal child health, and other health issues. Through partnerships, AHC builds quality of life and well-being of its target population. It convenes forums and workshops and health educators, government officials and social service providers to raise awareness about the community’s needs.