Africare helps Africans help themselves. The not-for-profit organization provides support to communities in Africa in areas such as health care, food security, agriculture, education, environmental management, and water resource development. Africare also works to help people create small business, such as growing sunflowers and pressing the seeds into cooking oil, and to provide emergency humanitarian aid when needed. Africare has given more than $675 million in aid to more than 35 countries in Africa, funding more than 2,000 projects. Africare HIV/AIDS Initiative works to raise awareness, promote safe sex, and increase access to health services. William and Barbara Kirker founded the organization in 1970.