Southern Africa: Raising Children Orphaned by AIDS: Learning from the Frontline Experts
In sub-Saharan Africa, by 2010 it is estimated that 25 million children will be orphaned or will be considered vulnerable because of HIV. For the past five years in Uganda, World Education has been at the forefront of efforts to help families and local organizations raise these children in the communities where they live. While efforts are laudable, most people are completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of children needing their care and guidance. Government policies developed at high-levels are well-intended but aren't easily understood by people working on the ground, meaningful connections to government officials are often weak, and dedicated financial investments aren't getting to the communities who ultimately shoulder the burden of raising these children.
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Children orphaned by AIDS are highly vulnerable to exploitation and depression. Keeping them in school is one way to reduce their vulnerability and help them cope with deep grief and loss.
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To bridge the gap in knowledge, relationships, and support among community-based organizations working on the frontlines, World Education and government and community partners gathered together during a conference called "Communities Respond to the Challenge of Orphans and Vulnerable Children," in Kampala, Uganda, in early February. Community-based organizations and care-givers shared their wisdom, experience and challenges with government officials, donors and other policy makers during this week-long conference.
Attended by nearly 100 people from 10 countries in Southern and Western Africa, the conference highlighted the importance of creating models of care that reflect local conditions. One successful model, used commonly in South Africa, utilizes schools as a central part of the strategy to identify and care for children. Because schools are natural centers of child protection, advocates for children orphaned by HIV in South Africa work with teachers, school management, and PTA committees to identify children in need and then link them with appropriate local social services.
African professionals were delighted to meet with and learn from their colleagues from neighboring countries. Most had never had the chance to attend such a meeting, and people appreciated the opportunity to learn from each other, to be valued for their own expertise. World Education strongly supports such 'South-South' exchanges that highlight and strengthen the skills, talents, knowledge and abilities of people working at the local level to effectively and creatively address issues that matter to their communities.
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