Remembering Helen Taylor Thompson

Helen Taylor Thompson, the founder of Education Saves Lives, passed away on Sunday September 6th, shortly after her 96th birthday.

Helen founded "Education Saves Lives" 20 years ago, originally as "Thare Machi Education". At the time she was in her 70s, when many people would have been thinking of slowing down. Helen, however, was a formidable and visionary lady and she was determined to do something to combat the ravages of HIV/AIDS in the developing world.

She understood that a simple lack of information was leading to many HIV and AIDS infections in vulnerable communities. She saw that the emerging technology of DVDs could be used to solve this problem, by giving people access to simple lessons for safer living in their own language. As a result of her vision, and the work of Education Saves Lives, millions of lives all over the world have been changed and even saved.

Helen's legacy will live on through Education Saves Lives, and will be added to every time someone watches one of the lessons created through her inspirational leadership and work.

At the age of 96, Helen had lived a very full life, and she was at peace about the next stage of her journey. She expressed the wish that donations in her memory should be made to Education Saves Lives, which was the passion of her later years.

We are so grateful to Helen, and for her, for all she was and did. Helen lived an amazing life and we will miss her very, very much.