Population Reference Bureau and UNAIDS Statistics:
Population 2009 50,700,000
People living with HIV/AIDS, 2009 5,600,000
Women (aged 15+) with HIV/AIDS, 2009 3,300,000
Children with HIV/AIDS, 2009 330,000
Adult HIV prevalence (%), 2009 17.8
AIDS deaths, 2009 310,000
AIDS orphans: 1.9 Million (This figure is low...I have seen as much a 2.5 million)
Another Statistic states 70% children have lost their mothers.
HOT off the press:
South African HIV Cases Fall Slightly to 5.4 Million, but New Infections Continue to Outpace Prevention Efforts (August 26, 2011)
In Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Another fact that you should be aware of is that in Gauteng Province, 2008, 11,000 children were reported raped (stats by Provincial Government, Teddy Bear Clinic, and Childline of Johannesburg). There is a horrible belief that if a person with AIDS sleeps with a virgin, the AIDS will be cured. This has perpetuated rape to this kind of level.
Hard to get our mind wrapped around these figures, isn’t it? I have looked at so many statistics and none of them match! BUT the fact is that there is a HUGE number of orphans that are not being taken care of or are trying to take care of each other. I have seen this and worked with hundreds (possibly thousands) that are in this category.
What can we do? We can help children one by one.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
"He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:18
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, [Is] God in His holy habitation. Psalm 68:5
Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psalm 82:3
Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:17
Your princes [are] rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. Isaiah 1:23
Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve [them] alive; And let your widows trust in Me." Jeremiah 49:11
When I came to South Africa, I had know idea what all these numbers looked like or how we were to help but I trusted GOD and I believe that HE wants us to make a difference by providing a sort of child village for these orphans as they stay in their own communities.
Mountainview is an official Township with water and recently electricity houses. It is comprised of 5,000 shacks. I have learned much by visiting and listening to the needs of the community.
I have been visiting this community through Sibekiwe Primary School for the last 3 ½ years. I was told that they have 200 orphans alone in their school. I believe that there are 600 in the area and even more in surrounding area.
The needs for orphans and vulnerable children in Mountainview are great. Children that have been orphaned and left to raise themselves and their siblings are extremely vulnerable to the worst possible situations. Even in the best circumstances, they are at risk of hopelessness, hunger, physical abuse and violent crime.
I believe that GOD gave this vision for a “center” for the orphans. The “Center” would be a CHRIST based organization strengthening the community support systems. It would be there to improve the social conditions, health, development and quality of life for the orphans in the community, as a whole.
Taking the pressure off the young head-of-household orphans, the long term plan is to have foster care for them, maintaining them in their community with capable “mothers”, preferably “mother and father combination” caretakers creating “families” for the orphans. The “families” would be self-sustained and continue to nurture the children as they grow up and beyond. The short-term plan would be to identify, stabilize and help orphan-headed households to run smoothly until “families” could be formed. The idea entails the community helping community. We would also desire to employ a Social Worker.
The “Center” would address the spiritual needs through Bible Studies taught at ”center”. It is my prayer that the “Center” would be a church as GOD raises up a South African Pastor to run the church.
The “Center” would address grief and loss that the children have experienced and help them work through their grief.
Clothing and food could be provided until “homes” were running and self-sustaining.
In the short term, there is a clinic run by the Gauteng Province Government is in the area which could be utilized by the orphans. Long term plan would be to have a clinic that just addresses the needs of the project.
A Primary School, Sibekiwe, is in the area as well and has been serving Mountianview area since 1999. Just becoming an Independent Government School in 2009, is of great help to the orphans. It would continue to be an important part of the helping of orphans.
A Life Skills area at the “Center” would provide a place to equip foster parents in raising the children. It would be a place where the children get training on life skills, so needed for their adult life.
Life skills would include purity before marriage training, alcohol and drug abuse training as well as cooking, baking and sewing skills. Also gardening skills, computer skills, metal working and other skills as ideas, teachers and funds are provided. These skills would be designed to give hope, dignity, support, and preparation to the children as they grow into adults. It is desirous that in the long term the “families” would have the skills to help the children.
The project is intended to help the community help itself, being self-sustained and South African run as soon as it is able to be so. Providing help for those living in Mountainview, as they work with the needs of the orphans living there. In other words; A community effort to help the community needs of orphans.
I would seek funds from the South African Government, church partnerships, South African organizations, private donors, and future income generated by proposed “families”.
The model would be as depicted below. I ask that you prayerfully ask the LORD what you can do to make a difference with this project.
Thank you and may GOD bless you.
