The Problem

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Uganda is one of the countries that has been infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and war for over 20 years.  As you might imagine, this has tremendously increased the number of orphans in our country.  It is estimated that in Uganda they are over 5 million orphans due to HIV/AIDS.  It is expected that over the next ten years, this number it is likely to double.  Many orphans are children of primary school age; these orphans have lost one or both of their parents. They usually live alone or with one or with their extended family. This means that it is not uncommon in Uganda that there is typically an orphan living with a large majority of families.

Many children have been and continue to be traumatized by the loss of their parents.  In Uganda it’s the order of the day to find grandparents surrounded by a fleet of grandchildren, families headed by adolescents, dying adults being nursed by their children, and children scattered among relatives.

As a result, many people are considered to be living in poverty, and most of these people are below the age of eighteen.  Poverty has a direct effect on peoples lives, as poor people have little access to health services, education, clean water and many other very important things.

Major obstacles to child survival, development, protection and participation in Uganda include lack of food, water, shelter, health care and education. The UN convention on the Rights of Children contain rights relating to every aspect of children’s lives, including the right to survival, development, and protection and participation in choices relating to their lives.

Orphans need care, including  feeding,  health and sanitation , vocational trainings and life skills,  emotional/psychosocial support, counseling, recreation, religious support, scholastic materials, beddings, utensils, transport to health units, a roof over their head and of course education  that work as a safety net in the childs life. With out supporting and empowering orphans, in the future they will live as beggars on the streets.

 Primary Education