POWER OF LOVE FOUNDATION

POWER OF LOVE FOUNDATION We are dedicated to providing innovative healthcare solutions in slums and stressed neighborhoods A perfect storm in the making ​Every year, more than 70 million people move to cities, often settling in slums that lack basic services and infrastructure. By 2030, the number of slum dwellers will surpass 2 billion. Climate change, population growth, violence, and poverty drive this massive urban migration. Women and children bear the greatest burden of the resulting humanitarian and health challenges—including HIV, maternal mortality, and now an accelerating mental health crisis. Yet too few organizations are focused here. A perfect storm is brewing, just on the periphery of our vision. Who we are Power of Love Foundation is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2002 by three friends—Suresh Subramanian, Alka Subramanian, and Ellen Furnari—who left their careers in business and academia to create a community-driven model to fight HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. That model, born in the slums of Kenya and Zambia, has since expanded to India and evolved to include maternal health, early childhood care, and mental health support—especially for children and caregivers coping with trauma, stigma, and long-term illness. We are also responding to the growing health threats posed by climate change in these communities. Mission and Vision Our Mission: To build strong and vibrant communities by delivering innovative healthcare solutions and empowering women. Our Vision: In our vision, slums and poor communities are no longer pockets of neglect. They become places of resilience—where health flourishes, safe spaces emerge, and women lead the way in shaping a better future. We see communities where mental and physical well-being are equally supported. Where children grow up free from both disease and despair. Where women are not only participants in change, but its architects—equipped with the tools, resources, and networks to lead. In this future, slums are no longer forgotten corners. They are vibrant ecosystems where health, safety, equity, and dignity converge. Our comprehensive community-based approach From the beginning, we’ve used a community-based approach to healthcare. We never enter a community unless we are invited. Our staff are residents of the neighborhoods we serve, and local voices shape every program. This deep-rooted engagement has helped us build lasting trust—during the AIDS epidemic, in responding to maternal deaths, and now in tackling the often-hidden crisis of mental illness. We take a holistic view of community health, offering care that integrates HIV treatment, maternal and child wellness, trauma-informed support, and economic empowerment. By addressing multiple drivers of poor health simultaneously, our programs adapt over time and stay relevant to what families truly need. What we are learning After two decades in the field, a few guiding lessons shape how we work: Believe in the wisdom within slum communities Partner actively with local government clinics—they’re essential to sustainability Design programs with short feedback loops Build networks of learning within neighborhoods Work transparently and collaboratively Engage the private sector wherever feasible Recognize mental health as a foundational part of long-term well-being