Dear Friends,

Unfortunately, I am not able to be with you tonight as I am still recovering from a bout of Bronchial Pneumonia.

An old African proverb says " If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far and succeed , go together"

As we celebrate the Twentieth Anniversary of the establishment of Zerf, we give thanks to God for all the people, supporters, workers, artists, musicians, lawyers, accountants, public officials in municipalities and governments, not only in Montreal and Quebec, but further afield, who have joined us in our efforts.

We started in a small way by providing computers and equipment to the Good Hope Centre in Worcester, South Africa. One of our members even went out there to train them in operating and repairing computers. All this was made possible through the donations of companies and individuals who donated computers, and friends in the Shipping Business who transported shipments from Montreal to Cape Town.

When the Aids Epidemic overtook the continent of Africa, we focused our attention to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS in places in Africa where we had contacts. In order to draw attention to this Pandemic, we hit on the idea of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. It worked! In Montreal and wider afield in Canada we received donations of money and antiviral drugs to fight Aids. Because we delivered the medicines in person to the Doctors treating patients, and so prevented them from getting into the "Black Market", we received many more donations from Health Partners in Canada and local Drug Stores and Doctors, since we could assure donors that the medicines were delivered into the hands of the right people.

At the foot of Kilimanjaro, in the town of Moshi, Wilhelmina met Doctor, Sister Urbani Lyimo - the Nun who is also the Doctor in charge of St. Joseph's Hospital.From discussions with her it became clear that the hospital desperately needed a diagnostic centre, where people could be tested for Aids, particularly new born babies - as HIV doesn't show up at birth, but years later. This would enable them to treat babies who did have the disease much earlier. Thus we have set up a Brach of Zerf in Moshi to pursue that aim.

Meanwhile, just before the climbers left this year, we discovered a company in Halifax which produces Test Kits for HIV/AIDS, much like a Pregnancy Test. We quickly purchased a supply to send with the climbers - we still owe the supplier $1,500!

Please spread the word and help us raise funds to supply Medicines, Test Kits and provide a Diagnostic Centre as we wish you a Joyous Christmas and Prosperous New Year.

Jan Dijkman

President of Zerf