JUSTIFICATION TO ESTABLISH THE PROJECT
Among the most devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa is that it is orphaning generations of children-jeorpadising their rights and well being, as well as compromising the overall development prospects of their countries. In 1990, fewer than 1 million sub-Saharan African children under the age of 15 had lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. At the end of 2001, 11 million in this age group were orphans because of HIV/AIDS, nearly 80% of the world total. By 2010, 20 million in this age group are likely to be orphans from this single cause, comprising about half the total number of orphans expected in the region. Households with orphans are more likely to become poorer. UNICEF regards enrolling children in school and keeping them their as the most essential ingredient in helping orphans cope with their loss.
Children are our most valuable natural resource, they are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. There is a great need to sound a new and more urgent alarm over what is arguably the most neglected crisis spawned by HIV/AIDS pandemic-the plight of millions of profoundly vulnerable children who have lost one or both parents to the disease and the long term threat that the situation poses to peace and security, not only in sub-Saharan Africa, but worldwide.
The severity of the crisis is worsening with dire implications for the long-term economic and social stability of sub-Saharan Africa.
The numbers of orphaned children we are talking about are already vast and growing rapidly, so much so that they are beginning to overwhelm the coping capacities of families and communities. HIV/AIDS wreaking even more devastation on orphans and surviving family members than had been suspected. Worldwide, there are 14 million children orphaned by AIDS, most between 10 and 15 years old. Of these, some 11 million are in sub-Saharan Africa.
Groups of such children are an increasingly common sight in sub-Saharan African communities-children growing up without adults to supply love, nurturing care and protection, who are hungry, malnourished, denied their basic right to education and ultimately stigmatized and excluded by societies whose attitudes and policies are rooted in ignorance and discrimination. By 2010, if current infection rates hold, the ranks of children orphaned by AIDS may swell to 20 million.
To make matters worse, HIV/AIDS is decimating the ranks of people who have the skills necessary to help save these children including aunts and uncles who have provided care. Teachers and health workers are dying in unprecedented numbers- in some countries much faster than replacements can be trained-the scarce development resources are being diverted to provide care and support for the sick and dying.
At the same time, we must ensure that the rights and needs of all orphans and indeed all HIV/AIDS affected children are addressed in every phase of development planning and action.
This is the backdrop against which Zimbabwe AIDS Orphans has been born in 2006. the children do not only require food, shelter and ready access to health services and education, but emotional support and family community based care for which the organisation wishes to fulfill through its programs.
BACKGROUND OF ZIMBABWE AIDS ORPHANS (ZOA)
The mission of ZOA is to meet the young people at the point of their need in education and other socio-economic support. The organisation was formed in 2006 to respond to the growing crisis of orphans in Zimbabwe and beyond. ZOA is poised to play a major role in transforming the lives of orphans through innovative and needs based activities, that addresses pressing and contemporary issues in the country and beyond.
JUSTIFICATION TO ESTABLISH THE PROJECT
Among the most devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa is that it is orphaning generations of children-jeorpadising their rights and well being, as well as compromising the overall development prospects of their countries. In 1990, fewer than 1 million sub-Saharan African children under the age of 15 had lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. At the end of 2001, 11 million in this age group were orphans because of HIV/AIDS, nearly 80% of the world total. By 2010, 20 million in this age group are likely to be orphans from this single cause, comprising about half the total number of orphans expected in the region. Households with orphans are more likely to become poorer. UNICEF regards enrolling children in school and keeping them their as the most essential ingredient in helping orphans cope with their loss. Also, the relationship that is likely to be established with the decision making adult in the family- who may be an elderly person whose authority the child may reject. The risk is high that these children will never develop their full physical and intellectual capacity. Therefore, the Zimbabwe AIDS Orphans initiatives would go a long way in alleviating the crisis at hand. The educational project can be married to some income generating projects and other relevant activities like children camp. On the other hand, self help projects would go a long way in giving the children options to earning a living, and carrying the fees burden would mean that many orphans who might otherwise be separated from their families are able to remain with them. With the continued fall in disposable incomes most people can no longer afford the barest of basic necessities, including affordable health care and education in t6he face of HIV/AIDS pandemic.
METHODOLOGY
In order to achieve its goals the Zimbabwe AIDS Orphans (ZAO) shall:
Pay fees for the orphaned children at secondary and skills training centers (tertiary)
Engage in local and international networking and resource mobilization for raising the funds.
Engage government and other duty bearers to take children’s plight seriously
Holding of periodic training programs for children to assist them overcome their low esteem and bitterness brought by loss of loved ones.
Send other children for skills training in garment making, carpentry, computers, building and other life supporting skills.
Expand into other parts of the country like Harare, Mutare, Bulawayo and Gweru
PROGRAM INTERESTS
*Provision of school fees and other self-help training
*Alleviating the loss of the children through self-esteem camps
*Provision of specialized nutritional inputs for the children in schools and at home.
FUNDS AND ASSETS
Funds and assets of the ZAO shall vest within it, provided that the Board of Directors/Trustees may in its discretion, create a Trust, which shall be the legal holder of donated funds and assets.
PROGRAM IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY
The project has a potential to transform the lives of orphaned children around the selected areas and within Zimbabwe. As a result of innovative initiatives Zimbabwe AIDS Orphans shall be self-sustaining/ sustaining as soon as the projects have started to run smoothly. However, the strategic partners shall remain in place up until an opportune time when ZAO can be weaned from external support.
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