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Nov 30 2011

The Courage to Drive Change in China

Thomas Cai’s organization, AIDS Care China, is helping to change the face of the HIV/AIDS response in China.

If you take a few minutes to watch the moving video below, you’ll see Thomas forging relationships with doctors, building community leaders in the battle against AIDS and, simply put, getting things done.

It’s a fair portrayal of the man I met a couple of years ago, as part of my recent tenure as a board member of the Levi Strauss Foundation. The Foundation has been a longtime supporter of organizations like AIDS Care China, because they promote the health and rights of disadvantaged populations who are disproportionally affected by the epidemic.

I’ve always been eager to see what “driving social change” really looks like on the ground. When my foundation colleague, Stanley Wong, organized a trip to visit AIDS Care China in 2010, I was thrilled to be invited.

Thomas’ organization had already begun generating a buzz in the philanthropic sector: in 2008, it received the prestigious Red Ribbon Award from the United Nations, given to leaders who display “extraordinary courage… in addressing one of the greatest challenges of our time.”

I won’t spoil the details of how AIDS Care China came about or what it presently does to help marginalized groups, but I will add that witnessing its pioneering success is nothing short of inspiring. Think about the following:

  • Doctors and nurses working alongside nonprofits to learn how to deliver quality prevention and treatment care, free of stigma and discrimination.
  • People affected by HIV/AIDS—from young adults to migrant factory workers—forming communities of support and action.
  • A leader who mobilizes both private and public sectors to end the spread of HIV/AIDS.

These scenarios would’ve been unthinkable in Chinese healthcare settings a few years ago. But with healthy dosages of creativity and perseverance, AIDS Care China and other organizations are making change happen.

The Levi Strauss Foundation is a vital partner in nurturing that change. I’m proud to be a part of it, too.

Posted By: Babur Rafiq, Vice President, Denizen™ Sourcing and Supply Planning

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Tags: Levi Strauss & Co.,Social Responsibility

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