Organization: Asia America Initiative, AAI

All Photos AAI builds peace, social justice and economic development in impoverished conflict-plagued communities. Our grassroots initiatives integrate health, education, arts and livelihood to bring communities together. We bridge cultural divides through communal self-reliance and hope. Our education progams impact over 25,000 elementary, high school and college students. Our cancer treatment program assists hundreds of disadvantaged adults and children. How much more we can do with YOUR support!

Focus Areas:	Arts, Children, Technology, Disaster Relief, Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health, Human Rights, Poverty, Conflict Resolution, Gender & Equality
Countries Served:	All 10 countries: Afghanistan China Indonesia Korea, North Myanmar Philippines Pakistan Thailand Taiwan, Province of China Viet Nam   Summary by region: Asia

Description of Services:
PEACE - Peace mediation and conflict resolution EDUCATION - College scholarships - Music and Arts for Peace - Sports for Peace - Public school renovation and curriculum development - Adult literacy programs - School construction and sanitation improvement - Teacher training - Educational technologies HEALTH - Cancer Treatment for the Poor - Midwives program (medical support, public health) LIVELIHOOD - Livelihood and entrepreneurial training - Grassroots economic development and e-commerce ENVIRONMENT - Ecological and environmental sustainability - Agriculture and Fisheries HUMANITARIAN - Refugee relief - Natural disaster relief - Water sanitation
History:
The Asia America Initiative was created in 2002 to perform conflict resolution through comprehensive community development in countries plagued with terrorism, religious conflict and severe poverty. AAI President and Founder, Albert Santoli, has extensive humanitarian experience throughout Asia. AAI's international model project is located in the violence-plagued Muslim Mindanao region of the Philippines. The organization has also conducted and supported emergency humanitarian intervention in Cambodia, along the Thailand-Burma border, Pakistan and Afghanistan. AAI has supported the release of political prisoners in China, Tibet, Vietnam and Burma. An Afghanistan program was recently started and a North Korea project is being developed.
Accomplishments & Progress:
In March 2009, we celebrated the first group of 4-year Community Service Scholars' graduation from universities in Mindanao, and we look forward to sponsoring the next group of scholars. AAI's Cancer Treatment for the Poor program, launched in May 2009, has since distributed specialized cancer medication to the urban poor in the Philippine capital of Metro Manila. On Sep. 2009, in the aftermath of two disastrous typhoons, AAI along with World Vision and AmeriCares donated shipments of water purifiers, medicines and hygiene kits for the millions of affected people in northern Philippines, the operations of which are ongoing as parts of the capital remain flooded.