Save the Children helping children affected by HIV/AIDs
1 December 2006, Save the Children US

Every year on December 1st, we are reminded that AIDS is a children’s issue. More than 15 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to the disease, and experts predict that number will rise to more than 25 million by 2010.

What happens to these children? They are left to care for ill parents or younger siblings. They are often stigmatized and ostracized by their communities and classmates. Many drop out of school.

But the picture is not always grim. When countries and communities step in to provide care and support for these children, young lives can be changed.

Starting in 1996, Save the Children began working with communities in Malawi to address the rampant increase in HIV infection and discuss courses of action to take for children affected by this crisis. Today, our programs reach hundreds of thousands of children in 14 countries.

This World’s AIDS Day, help us keep the promise to fight AIDS and give these children hope for a better life.

Take a look at this webpage:
http://www.savethechildren.org/programs/health/hiv-aids/world-aids-day-2006.html#

There you can find:
1. A video: Helping orphans and vulnerable children
2. An e-book: Reflections of Hope, a youth photo project
3. A story about Chifundo (Brave) from Malawi
4. An experts' discussion on HIV/AIDS with staff from Ethiopia, Uganda and Mozambique.
5. They have a section on 'how you can help' – but we advise that in New Zealand you should go to our New Zealand page: http://www.savethechildren.org.nz/new_zealand/how_you_can_help/donate_now.html

ENDS

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