Introduction
There are 22.3 million people infected with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. The segment of the population hardest hit is the middle generation – the workers and the parents. Their deaths leave their children behind, often without any means of support.
An estimated 18-20 million children
will be without one or both parents in sub-Saharan Africa by the year
2010. (That’s about as many people as there are in Ontario, Quebec,
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and
Labrador all added together.) There is rarely food enough for one meal
a day. There is little money for school fees, books or uniforms.
In a great number of cases, orphaned children end up living with their
grandmothers. Some live in what are called ‘sibling households’
or ‘child-headed households,’ in which the eldest child is often
a 12 to 14 year-old girl looking after her siblings.
The Challenge
Nova Scotia students would like
to raise 1 penny for each of these 20 million children who may be orphaned
by 2010. That is $200,000.00.
What Then?
All proceeds will be donated
to the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) who works to ease the pain of
HIV/AIDS in Africa. It provides resources to small, front-line
groups that make tremendously effective use of comparatively small amounts
of money. Proceeds will assist orphans in every possible way,
from the payment of schools fees and supplies, to support for their
guardians, most often grandmothers and older teenagers.
Can you get involved?
Get active in your school.
Inform yourself about the issue and be creative about raising funds
in your community. Your efforts can make a big difference.
For more information and ideas contact: slfatcitadel@student.ednet.ns.ca
You CAN change the world.