Currently 25 million Africans are infected with HIV. UNAIDS estimates that the infection rate will peak at 25 – 30% of the population within the next ten years. More than 8 million children have already been orphaned in sub-Saharan Africa and it is likely that the disease will produce 3 million orphans over the next year.

South Africa has the highest HIV infection levels in the world; in the province of KwaZuluNatal (KZN), the death rate due to AIDS is already higher than the birth rate. In KZN alone, there is currently approximately 120 000 AIDS orphans. This figure is expected to rise to 750 000 in the next ten years.

The effect that AIDS has on the economy is devastating. Productivity is dropping significantly – not only because of the higher turnover of workers and a shrinking workforce, but also due to a worker with full-blown AIDS being absent from work on average half of the time, and when on duty, functioning at only about 50% of his/her capacity. Add to that an already wavering economy, overcrowded hospitals, the growing burden of home care for AIDS patients and care for the orphaned and aged, and it becomes clear that the shrinking healthy part of the population will soon not be able to meet the growing needs. Help from outside Africa is needed as never before in history.

The following is an already typical scene from deep rural KZN.

This family lives in a poor community, in a single-room clay hut with a thatched roof, with no electricity or running water, nor accessible public transport. The father, a former mineworker, passed away some time ago, leaving the mother with practically no income. Recently also the mother passed away due to AIDS, leaving 7 children behind, of whom the two youngest are in poor health, having contracted the HIV-virus through their mother. The oldest child, a girl of 12 years, is carrying the responsibility for the whole family, including an aged grandfather on whose meagre pension two families rely. Due to the circumstances, the children do not go to school anymore.

Only recently has their plight come to light; they now receive a biweekly visit from a volunteer worker, who delivers a food package provided by the Government. Needless to say, however, food is only one of many needs this family has, and it is to be doubted that when these children reach adulthood, they will have the physical, mental, emotional or moral resources to pull themselves out of their misery.

Christians groups from various countries, united by their ties with a reputable mission in KZN, have already accepted the challenge and are urgently working towards the establishment of orphan villages, with related infrastructure and support services, within those communities where they are most needed. Building plans have been drawn up for the first of these villages and construction is about to begin. The long-term project takes into account the physical, emotional and educational needs of the orphans, and also makes provision for the integration of the children into their communities.

As it is foreseen that it will take some decades before AIDS and its effects are under control, as orphan care is a long-term commitment at its best, and as this is an ambitious project, the plea is for as much assistance as possible, from as many sources as possible, in whichever form available.

There will be tight controls over the use of donations. A non-profit company has been formed to supervise and execute the project. Funds will be administered from Switzerland by a board of trustworthy independent individuals from both South Africa and Switzerland. Audited financial statements will be available annually for scrutiny by donors. General feedback and reports will be put on the web.

If you would like to become involved, please contact us at ……………… for more information.

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