"Sometimes in life there is that moment when it's possible to make a change for the better. This is one of those moments."

-Elizabeth Glaser

When her daughter died of AIDS, Elizabeth Glaser decided it was the moment to act. Driven by a desire to save her son, Elizabeth started a foundation that became a global leader in the fight against pediatric AIDS.

Twenty years later, a new moment is upon us. Guided by Elizabeth's spirit, please join the moment and help us create a generation free of HIV.

The movement Elizabeth inspired brought about the creation of medicines that are as effective as a vaccine at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Yet each day, more than 1,000 children worldwide are infected with HIV because their mothers don't have the access to these lifesaving treatments.

Now, we have a new moment for action. We hope that you will join us and make a gift now, because only by working together can we affect the change we need to save millions of children around the world.

Over the coming months, we will share examples of the successes that your support helps us achieve. We hope these moments inspire you. As you read the story below, please remember that we can't do this alone; your contributions are critical to achieving longer, healthier lives for families around the world.

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"One year in Africa. You'll be living for 13 months in the North West region of Cameroon, in a city called Bamenda."

This is all the information I had prior to flying 7,000 miles on a one-way ticket from Washington, D.C., to Douala, Cameroon, in April 2008. I had been given the opportunity to work with the Foundation's in-country partner, the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board (CBCHB), to help oversee our prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV program there.

I had so many unique and wonderful moments during those 13 months in Cameroon -- it would be impossible to share them all. So I'll highlight three of my favorites:

One Saturday morning, a group of more than 40 mothers and children descended upon my quiet veranda. I asked a colleague who the people were and what their purpose was. "It's the first child's psychosocial support group," he responded. I decided to join them and over the next two hours, I sang, danced, and listened as the children shared moving stories of how HIV and AIDS had affected their lives.

Another memorable experience was participating in a youth-focused intervention at a three-day conference for young adults between the ages of 12 and 26. The goal of CBCHB's Youth Network for Health is to provide practical, scientifically-sound health information to youth. More than 200 young people spent 72 hours in a small village church, where they watched movies, played games, and talked about essential health issues. Despite the lack of electricity, 95-degree heat, and long hours, the youth were energetic and expressed deep appreciation for the education they received.

These two experiences were very special and really put the Foundation's mission in perspective. But my true "mountaintop" experience in Cameroon was a one-on-one interaction with a three-year-old little boy.

In May 2008, I spent a week in a small village north of Bamenda. Arriving at the village primary health care center on the first day, the trained birth attendant in charge of the center was waiting for us outside, holding a toddler. As I got out of the car, the little one turned, registered my face, and began crying at the top of his lungs - I was the first white person he had ever seen. Over the course of the week, he seemed to be warming up to me but never got close.

On the last day, I was sitting outside on a bench, waiting to be picked up. The boy came and sat on the opposite end and stared at me. Over the next five minutes, he gradually edged closer and in the last moments, stuck out his pudgy hand and placed it on top of mine. I had made a friend.

In April 2009, I said goodbye to my CBCHB colleagues and friends in a "send forth" ceremony, and returned home to the U.S. Cameroon is not just a memorable year for me - my experiences will continue through my ongoing relationships with the remarkable individuals I met there.

After three years with the Foundation, Catie is leaving in August to pursue a master's degree in global public health from the University of Washington. She plans to go back to Cameroon as often as she can, and hopes to focus her future research in Cameroon and West Africa.

Learn more about the Foundation's program in Cameroon , and how you can join the moment to create a generation free of HIV.