Proven, Community-Led Health Solutions
For over 20 years, the Power of Love Foundation has delivered innovative, community-based healthcare in some of the world’s most neglected places. Our pediatric HIV program achieves survival rates five times higher than global norms, and our integrated approach has expanded to include maternal health, mental health, safe water, clean cooking, malaria prevention, and women’s economic empowerment.
Founded in 2002 by three friends - Suresh Subramanian, Alka Subramanian, and Ellen Furnari - who left careers in business and academia, our mission began in the slums of Kenya and Zambia. Today, it extends to communities in Africa and India, always guided by one principle: the wisdom and resilience of slum communities themselves.
Why Slums?
- Scale: More than 1.1 billion people already live in slums; by 2030, it will be nearly 2 billion.
- Stacked Risks: HIV, unsafe water, maternal deaths, indoor air pollution, and untreated mental illness are all interconnected.
- What Works: Community-led, integrated care addresses multiple challenges in a single household visit.
This is why POL is not just another healthcare NGO - we are focused where global health and urban futures intersect.
Our Mission
To build strong and vibrant communities by delivering innovative healthcare solutions and empowering women.
Our Vision
We imagine a future where:
- Health flourishes and both physical and mental well-being are supported.
- Safe spaces emerge where children learn and play free from stigma.
- Women lead as entrepreneurs, caregivers, and architects of change.
- Slums transform into vibrant ecosystems where dignity and opportunity thrive.
Our Impact (At a Glance)
- 1,500+ HIV+ children cared for over 20 years - with survival rates matching or exceeding the best published results in sub-Saharan Africa (~94% at 1 year, ~93–94% at 2 years, and ~92% at 5 years).
- 100% HIV-free births among HIV+ mothers in our program for the past six years.
- 90%+ microloan repayment rate among women entrepreneurs.
- Tens of thousands of families protected from malaria through nets and education.
- First community-based mental health program in Lusaka’s slums, breaking stigma and expanding treatment access.
- Safe water & clean cooking programs reducing respiratory disease and waterborne illness.
How We Work (Our Guiding Principles)
We have learned that sustainable impact comes from respect, partnership, and evidence. Every program reflects these principles:
- Community-First: We only enter when invited.
- Local Leadership: Our staff come from the neighborhoods we serve.
- Partnerships: We work closely with government clinics to ensure sustainability.
- Evidence-Based: Programs are designed with feedback loops, data tracking, and transparency.
- Women at the Center: We empower women as leaders and economic architects.
- Mental Health Matters: We treat mental well-being as foundational to long-term resilience.
- Efficient & Economical: By integrating multiple needs into a single household visit, we avoid duplication, lower costs per family, and strengthen local health systems.
Why It Matters
Slums are too often invisible to the world. Yet they are home to millions of resilient families. We know that when women are empowered, when children are nurtured, and when communities are trusted, slums can move from being places of neglect to places of strength.
[Donate $25] [Partner With Us] [Board of Directors] [Financials]
