Education as a Vaccine Against AIDS (EVA) was founded in October 2000 by two young, Nigerian-born women.  Fadekemi Agarau (née Akinfaderin) and Damilola Adebiyi went to the United States during childhood, where they remained through the completion of their undergraduate education at Wesleyan University.  After learning, toward the end of their college careers, about the AIDS epidemic affecting their homeland, the women joined forces to combat the disease and the socio-cultural misconceptions surrounding it.

Agarau and Adebiyi were inspired to return to their home country to help control the spread of HIV/AIDS. In December 1999, they took a trip together to Nigeria, and with the help of a healthcare consulting firm they were able to conduct formative research. The results revealed that a majority of young people lacked basic knowledge of the disease, were sometimes in denial of their potential to contract the disease, and lacked the life skills necessary to prevent infection.

In order to make their vision a reality, Adebiyi and Agarau decided to apply to the Echoing Green Foundation and were awarded one of their prestigious grants.  With this generous gift and their own confidence and convictions, they were able to turn their ideas into an established organization.  With the dedication of its founders and staff, assistance of volunteers and support from the community, EVA has been continuously growing and has become one of the most prominent and respected organizations in the nation's capital.