Supporting HIV/AIDS Orphans in Malawi

Supporting HIV/AIDS Orphans in Malawi
ActionAid’s Priority Project in Malawi constructs and maintains children’s centers which each help 400 children under six years old have access to basic education, emotional support and healthcare, including HIV testing facilities and antiretroviral (ARV) treatments. Donate Now

There are currently 43 million people living with HIV globally, 2.3 million of whom are children. AIDS kills 7,670 people every day worldwide, 4 out of 5 of these deaths are in Africa. This devastating disease is sweeping away teachers, nurses, farmers, mothers and fathers. 15 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to AIDS, leaving many vulnerable to neglect, having to fend for themselves without adult guidance or support. Many will face discrimination, growing up denied access to their basic rights, such as healthcare, education and food.

Malawi has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world, with 1 in 7 of the population living with the disease. The life expectancy is just 40 years and 1 in 6 children will die before their sixth birthday. Over half of the country’s 11.9 million population lives on less than $1 a day and 70% live in rural areas, meaning that many do not have access to important services, such as healthcare and a basic education, or the guarantee of at least one daily meal.

Over 500,000 children in Malawi have been orphaned by AIDS, leaving them vulnerable to child abuse, sexual exploitation and child labour. The emotional trauma starts well before the death of their parents as most have to care for their ailing parents from an early age and then deal with the devastation of watching them die. Many then have to fend for themselves or take on the role of heading their household, caring and providing for their siblings.

However there is a window of hope; only 2% of children aged 5 -14 are infected with HIV. Although, it is likely that 20% of them will be infected by HIV in adulthood unless they are given access to the services they vitally need now – education, nutrition, healthcare and emotional support.

Over 95% of children aged between 0-6 years old live in rural areas, such as Machinga, and do not have access to any opportunities for early childhood development, for example learning to read or socialising in a structured environment with other children. This is known to have an effect on the performance of the children when they start primary education, with many failing to perform well and not seeing the value of attending school, resulting in high drop out rates.

This Priority Project will see the construction of an Ufulu center in Ngokwe village, Machinga, which will help 400 children under the age of 6 years to access basic education, emotional support and healthcare, including HIV testing facilities and antiretroviral (ARV) treatments.

What Your Support Has Achieved

Your support has allowed us to help hundreds of children to access basic education and nutritious food, helping to lay a foundation for their education and their future. We began the construction of an Ufulu center in Ngokwe, Machinga District. It has also seen 12 nurses recruited who have already begun work, supporting the educational and emotional needs of the children. So far 208 nursery aged children are benefiting from basic education and the nutritional feeding program available.

This project is being implemented in partnership with the Mayera Community Based organization. The Ufulu center will be open to all children from Machinga, and aims to help over 400 children (both HIV positive and negative) once the center is completed. The project does not specifically focus on HIV positive children or AIDS orphans, as the project aims to encourage integration and inclusion rather than segregation. However, a number of the activities that will take place in the Ufulu center, such as the food and healthcare provided, will be particularly focused at supporting those children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Community Engagement

Before the project began, it was important to engage with community members from Ngokwe. ActionAid staff spent time with community members, explaining the importance of early childhood education.

As parents have begun to understand the benefit the center can bring, they have started to send their children there. Volunteers have also come forward to start teaching the children and the community has even built a temporary shelter where the center can run before the new site is fully completed.

The Construction Of The Ufulu Center

The actual construction of the center began in autumn 2007 following discussions with the community about the project and the creation of a management committee to oversee the center. The community has been very involved throughout 2007 in gathering the materials for the center in preparation for its construction. The foundations were laid in October and the shell of the center was nearly complete in December.

The community members are delighted with the project, especially given that there are currently no educational centers for children of nursery age in their area at all.

Provision of Nutritious Food

A key aspect of the project is the nutrition program that is being run at the center. This aims to ensure that all the children, particularly HIV orphans, receive at least one nutritious meal per day.

It also acts as an incentive for parents to send their children to the center, as food is particularly scarce between November and February before the next harvest and attendance at schools usually drops during these periods.

ActionAid is working at a national level, lobbying the Government to provide a school feeding program throughout the whole country that would be Government funded.

Educational Facilities

The temporary shelter, built by the community, is currently being used by the children to start learning while the building of the permanent center progresses. The nursery nurses are made up of volunteers from the community and use basic materials to facilitate activities for the children.

Looking Forward

Thanks to your generous support, 208 children aged 3-6 have benefited from the education and nutritious food provided at the temporary Ufulu center. By instilling the importance of education at such a young age these children’s future can hopefully be secured. This project is only half way, with the center anticipated to be completed in early 2008. At that point the training, counseling and healthcare programs will begin, ensuring the children are give necessary support to deal with the daily struggles they face due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

With your continued support in 2008 we hope to:

  • Complete the training of the nursery nurses in providing basic education.
  • Provide educational materials, toys and games in the new center.
  • Train 4 Volunteer counselors on HIV/AIDS (testing and antiretroviral administration) and emotional support.
  • Establish HIV testing and ARV administration facilities at the center.
  • Facilitate the establishment of a school garden at the Ufulu center to sustain the nutrition-feeding program and further involve the community.
  • Reach and support an additional 200 children in Ngokwe, who have yet to benefit from attending the Ufulu center.

When the children finish attending the Ufulu center, aged 6, they should go on directly to primary school, where they will be well prepared to fully integrate in the learning environment. We will follow up with these children to assess their performance and ensure they do not drop out of school.

$25 could pay for a hand basin at an Ufulu center.

$100 could provide 400 children with nutritious porridge for one week.

$250 could provide two children with anti retroviral treatment for two months.

$500 could equip an Ufulu center with materials, toys, and play equipment for 400 children.

$1,000 could pay for enough memory books for 400 children, enabling children to remember their parents through drawing and poems.

Help ActionAid today.