Orphaned children

One of millions of children orphaned by AIDS.

15 million children have become orphans because of AIDS.

Around 80% of the children live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa has the highest number of AIDS orphans.

Children orphaned by AIDS are often left in the care of grandparents or relatives who are unable to provide adequate care because of poverty. They are least likely to attend school, receive adequate healthcare or eat nutritious meals.

Making matters worse, more than half of the countries with large numbers of AIDS orphans have no policies in place to provide these children with the support they need.

Because half of all infections occur among 15 to 24-year-olds, it is also vital to provide young people with the knowledge to protect themselves.

Ethiopia: the situation

In the rural settlement of Chencha in Ethiopia, people are surviving from day to day. There is little access to clean water, many people have no jobs and families are being ravaged by HIV and AIDS.

There is a huge amount of trauma associated with the slow death of a parent. Orphaned children suffer psychological, economic and social pressures. Studies have shown that these pressures often lead to children engaging in risky sexual behaviour that can result in HIV infection in young adulthood.

Working with these communities to improve their capacity to protect the children is one way of reducing child labour.

How your monthly contribution helps

Your support helps to carry out activities to provide care for children orphaned by AIDS, including:

• Improving health services in their communities.
• Improving access to education.
• Providing support networks.
• Assisting their carers to access income and family support activities