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Solutions for the Orphanage and AIDS Crises
By Eric Gondwe

Dr. Eric Gondwe, a Peterhouse, Zimbabwe graduate, is the founder of Jesus Work Ministry, an evangelical ministry which has an allied network of websites that include Zimbabwe, Africa (Zimbabwe.cc).

The orphanage crisis is encircled by its root causes -poverty, disease, AIDS, war and famine. There are therefore many strategies in combing the crisis. The burden also requires sustained action at all levels from world governments, regional, national and local institutions and individuals.

It would be a lengthy narration showing how institutions and individuals worldwide are working to combat the crisis. For example, in the UN, UNAIDS works to combat AIDS, UNDP works to alleviate poverty, UNICEF works to support the welfare of children and so on. Different organizations and branches have different commitments in helping the poor, the disadvantaged and other victims of various problems.

About the HIV crisis in Africa the United States’ Health and Human Services Secretary, Tommy Thompson, said while visiting Zambia, “This war has caused more casualties than any other war. We need America, the European Union and everybody. Nobody is going to be spared unless we all come together in the fight against this disease,” (ABC News, Posted Dec. 1, 2003). Only our combined worldwide effort in combating the spread of AIDS will bring lasting results.

Not only combating HIV needs combined effort, the orphanage crisis also needs a combined worldwide effort. HIV/AIDS still accounts for less than 25 percent of the combined causes of the orphanage crisis worldwide (see Figures 1 and 2). These causes include poverty, disease, war and famine.

Figure 1: Percent of children under age 15 who are orphans by region, year, and cause
(Source: UNICEF, Children on the Brink 2002, p.6) Other causes= poverty, disease, war and famine.

Figure 2: Total Number of orphans by region, year, and cause
(Source: UNICEF, Children on the Brink 2002, p.7) Other causes= poverty, disease, war and famine.

As the trend data in the illustrations above shows HIV/AIDS has been the fastest growing cause in recent decades. According to UNICEF, the worldwide orphan population under age 15 is projected to reach 106 million by 2010. 25 million of these will be orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. Most of the 25 million will be from Africa where already more than 50% of the orphanage causes are due to AIDS, particularly in Southern Africa.

All orphans have essential needs irrespective of the cause of parental death. Based on the UNICEF study, Children on the Brink 2002, the largest requirement of resources to combat the orphanage crisis is in Africa and Asia. However, there is no region that that the war against the orphanage crisis is irrelevant. It is hoped that all key players in the fight against the scourge and its causes will effectively apportion resources in all the areas of need.

Charities are formal institutions established to combat the relentless growth of orphaned children. Some are global while most are small local charities. Global ones include UNICEF, Life Outreach, Christian International, Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) and CARE. Their focus is on assisting the orphaned children rather than combating the various causes. Our combined worldwide effort of fighting both the causes and effects of the orphanage crisis will bring lasting results.

The primary mission of orphanages is to act as guardians for the children in place of the parents they lost. It is to serve the children’s needs and to equip them with the skills, knowledge, opportunity and self assertiveness required for them to live independently in society as opposed to poor children entering adulthood surviving on hand outs. The essential needs include nutrition, education, parental love, security, religious guidance, and opportunity for a brighter future.

Part of this mission is to effectively mobilize resources from both individuals and institutions for supporting the orphaned children. Donors and administrative staff work as a team in this noble mission. Working together we can overcome the orphanage crisis.

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