ORPHAN RELIEF
Before the impact of AIDS throughout the world, about 2% of all children in developing countries were orphans. By 1997 the proportion of children with one or both parents dead had skyrocketed to 7% in many African countries and sometimes was as high as 11%. Latest statistics indicate that each day 6,000 children lose one or both parents due to AIDS, with more than 15 million children now orphaned worldwide.
In Africa, AIDS is generating orphans so quickly that extended families can no longer cope. Families and communities can barely fend for themselves, much less care for the orphans. Children who have lost a parent due to AIDS suffer more than other orphans because of the stigma attached to the disease. They face more risk of malnutrition, illness, abuse and sexual exploitation than children orphaned by other causes, and can even be deprived of education and basic social services.
Many agencies, including our BWM, are working to stem the impact of AIDS on orphans. These include UNICEF, Compassion International, World Vision, the World Health Organization, to name a few. Feel free to check their websites to learn more about their work.
The AIDS Orphan Bracelet Project is a project through a coalition of organizations to raise funds for orphan relief in Africa. You can find more at their website: www.aidsbracelets.org.
The Dear Brothers and Sisters program under BWM is also receiving contributions. Funds collected will support the orphan work in Western Tanzania.
Western Tanzania
Orphans in Africa have traditionally been raised by the extended family, but these families have become overwhelmed by the AIDS pandemic. The Board of World Mission, in partnership with the Moravian Church of Western Tanzania, has helped to develop a community based orphan visitation program based on the model developed by Dr. Gerard Foster and used extensively in Zimbabwe. This program was organized through the efforts of Drs. William Hoffman and Margaret Kraybill. It offers emotional and material support to all orphaned children, enabling them to remain in their families and participate in the community with their peers on an equal basis.
In June, 2002, this orphan care program for children under the age of 16 and having lost one or both parents began in Western Tanzania, in Sikonge. By the end of August, 2003 it had extended to Mlkolye, Kisanga, Chabutwa and sections of Tabora. By September, 2004, five additional villages had been added: Ipole, Msuva, Mkozi, Udongo and Kabanga. These additional communities cover an extremely large geographic area 20 km south of Sikonge. The total number of children receiving care is now 1200.
The program has evolved into two separate sections, one in the villages in the Sikonge district and the other in the city of Tabora. In each of the villages, two to four women who love children were chosen to administrate the program. A total of 15 women are now helping, ten in the villages and five in Tabora. These women canvassed the neighborhood and registered families requiring orphan care. They distribute provisions communally every four to six weeks. The program provides food (maize, rice and milk for infants), personal items (sleeping mats, sheets, soap and skin oil), school uniforms and supplies (which are required to attend school), and where necessary, school fees. Medical care is provided as needed through agreements with the local medical facilities.
An extended program has been developed, thanks to scholarship funds provided by the Twenty Minute Society at Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, PA. These are available to orphans of any age who have passed the secondary school entrance exams. There are currently five students are enrolled in this extended program which provides whatever assistance is required for these children to complete registration and to remain in school.
A close working relationship has developed between the orphan program and Youth New Fashion (YNF), a vocational training school for orphans over the age of 15. The school offers a two-year training course in tailoring and is fully accredited. Graduates will receive a government sanctioned certificate. Tracks in carpentry and computers area scheduled to open later in 2004. Extensive recreational facilities are also available to students. YNF is no longer exclusively for orphans and now needs to charge a small tuition fee. However, because of the support it has received from Central Moravian Church, both for its facilities and programs, it has enrolled six students from the Moravian orphan program tuition-free.
2006 Report
Orphans
The combined orphan program is now in its fourth year of service. It is assisting 1700 children in 22 villages and 5 parishes in the city of Tabora. Thirty-two orphans were attending secondary school at the end of the academic year. Results of government entrance exams will be announced in early January. The scores will determine next year’s enrollment.
Under its new director, Anna Sikazwe, the city program has begun to grow again. At each parish the numbers are slowly increasing. Similarly, village enrollment is also growing. Mama Kimwaga is currently developing plans to extend her scope to Imalampaka, 30 km to the southeast, and Tutuo, 18 km to the north. Both areas have Moravian churches and large populations. The results will be an increase in both enrollment and logistical difficulties.
The city program uses a large container for storage, distribution and record keeping. It is centrally located in the Moravian compound. There is no comparable facility in SK. To rectify this situation, discussions were held with Mama Kimwaga and the Sikonge Moravian Church (SMC) pastor. It was decided to renovate the large container on church property near the manse. This will provide adequate secure storage for the foreseeable future.
Support from the Moravian Congregation of Lititz
The Moravian Congregation of Lititz has fully supported Kitimbasha with a $1000 commitment and are well on our way to fulfilling the commitment to Isevya with $749.66 so far. Both villages are in the Tabora region. Tabora is located in the Northwest central part of Tanzania...not too far from the Serengheti.