Caring for orphans,
giving hope

Globally, about 16 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Children are being robbed of their childhood and forced to assume adult responsibilities too soon—such as the older sibling who leaves school to care for younger children.

Orphaned children lack the benefit of parental guidance and care, resulting in a generation that is more likely to live in poverty, drop out of school, and turn to anti-social behaviours. These are the challenges that Save the Children works to address. We focus on education, prevention, treatment, and community mobilization—key strategies to stop the spread of HIV and protect the next generation.

Most of our work takes place in Kenya, which has 1.2 million orphaned children and where 7.4 percent of 15 – 49 year olds are infected with HIV. By testing individuals for the virus and providing medication, we enable HIV-positive parents to carry on with their lives and continue caring for their children. This leads to lower levels of stigma and discrimination within communities.