Strengthening Family
and Community Care
for Orphans and Vulnerable Children
in Sub-Saharan Africa
Text-only Version
|
The Challenge Africa is Being Ravaged by HIV/AIDS and Children are Paying the Greatest Price Another 10 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa will lose their parents by 2015 due to HIV/AIDS. They will join the 14 million African children who have already lost their mothers or fathers to the disease, bringing the total to 24 million orphans in the region. This is an orphan crisis without historical precedent. It calls for a broad-based response that is compassionate and strategic, and addresses the root cause of the pandemic, which is poverty. Family and Community Safety Nets Are Weakened by HIV/AIDS A common thread that runs through Africa’s diverse cultures is that of extended family members stepping in to provide orphans with a nurturing home and a family, which children need to grow into healthy adults. Given the scale and scope of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, it is remarkable that most of the children who have been orphaned continue to be cared for by extended family members. But this safety net is becoming less reliable as more and more caregivers die. Family and community resources are stretched to the breaking point and are in need of help.
|
| Many African countries and international organizations recognize the shortcomings of institutions and discourage their use. They recognize that some children are placed in orphanages by family members to access food, clothing, and an education. They know that the existence of an orphanage can weaken a community’s motivation to address orphan issues. | ||
Building More Orphanages is not in the Best Interests of Children
The sheer number of orphaned and vulnerable children is overwhelming. Many well-meaning donors are funding orphanages as a solution to the problem. However, institutions are very expensive and can only reach limited numbers of children. Most importantly, orphanages often fail to meet children’s developmental needs and do not prepare them for adult life in a community. While institutions can serve as a temporary, last-resort response, they are not a long-term solution.
To receive a copy, please contact Firelight Foundation:
740 Front Street, Suite 380
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
United States of America
Phone: +1-831-429-8750
info@firelightfoundation.org
www.firelightfoundation.org
