God is touching needy children through LifeRise orphan care projects in African countries.
Orphans
nurture hurting children
LifeRise Orphan Projects | The Need | LifeRise Strategy
LifeRise Orphan Projects
Second Grant Awarded
Exciting news is that LifeRise AIDS Resources has awarded our second grant for the care of orphan and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS to a grass roots evangelical Christian partner in Ethiopia, Mekanisa Addis Kidan Baptist Church (MAKBC). In this grant, at least 45 children who are awaiting child sponsorship through our sister organization, Hope In View, will receive interim assistance. The project will share the gospel with children and family members who are not already attending church, as well as provide emotional support, preventive and sick care, education assistance, and emergency and supplemental food.
First Grant Accomplishments
LifeRise AIDS Resources first grant to Remember the Poorest Community (RPC) in Ethiopia is ongoing. So far in the grant, 30 children have accepted Christ. Last quarter's major accomplishment was that 45 children received a set of clothing. One young girl seriously ill with diabetes was diagnosed through health care provided by the grant. This saved her life. RPC received an award for "good practice" for the grant. This award was given by the President of Ethiopia. See NEWS for more information.
Future Grants
The 2 grants above are the first of a series for the care of children that LifeRise will give to grass roots partners in 3 African countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique (see HOW WE WORK). After extensive screening, we have already selected our partners for these grants. However, we still need to raise the funds.
Churches and individuals may underwrite one of these grants for orphan and vulnerable children for $6,000. This amount includes $5,000 to be given directly to our grass roots partner, and 20% ($1,000) to go to LifeRise for administration, travel, personnel, technical assistance, and monitoring. For more information on this investment opportunity, please visit Donate.
The Need
Children infected and affected by AIDS have largely been ignored in the global HIV/AIDS response, especially in poor countries. Yet, their needs are urgent and immense. When the needs are acute they threaten a child's survival; when they are chronic they cause lifetime physical and psychological scarring which robs a child's potential. It is estimated that over 15 million children have lost one or both parents from HIV/AIDS, and millions more have been made vulnerable. This pool is expected to double over the next 10 years. Traditional extended family and community care networks are being overwhelmed by the multitude of vulnerable children.
The adversities of children trapped in the HIV/AIDS struggle are substantial. Children experience trauma and emotional distress when their parents die. Many are then cared for by elderly grandparents or older siblings and descend into poverty. They become malnourished. They are forced to drop out of school. They feel afraid and isolated, face the pain of social stigma, and are subject to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. They are at increased risk for HIV infection and other illness and die at an early age.
LifeRise Strategy
LifeRise AIDS Resources projects for orphan and vulnerable children help them experience love and nurture, feel safe, be healthy, and achieve their God-given potential. Projects give life-saving care, strengthen families, and mobilize communities and churches to respond.
Children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS are those less than 18 years of age who: are living with HIV/AIDS or in affected households; have lost one or both of their parents to AIDS; have a chronically ill parent; are heading households; and, are outside of family care, such as those living on the street. To avoid stigma, all orphans and vulnerable children may be included in LifeRise projects; those who are vulnerable because of HIV/AIDS may take priority if the project has this information.
Intervening in the Cycle of Trauma
Traumatized children enter into a “cycle of trauma” that moves from immediate crisis and risk of death towards long-term loss and chronic trauma and exploitation. The further a child progresses in this cycle, the more difficult it is to restore a child to healthy development. Therefore, LifeRise is most concerned with prevention of trauma for children, as well as early intervention. We support programs that anticipate a child’s needs to prevent loss, as well as assess a child’s acute needs and provide focused intervention to transition the child to a stable home situation. Projects may involve: reuniting children with extended families; providing families for children through foster care or local or international adoption; strengthening families, including child-headed households; community- or “village”-based group homes; day care programs; drop-in centers; and, community or church support committees or orphan trusts.
Holistic, Individualized Child Care
LifeRise projects provide holistic care to address 8 areas of need: 1) spiritual care; 2) food and nutritional support; 3) shelter and care; 4) protection; 5) health care; 6) psychosocial support; 7) education and vocational training; and, 8) economic opportunity/strengthening. LifeRise projects provide individualized services to children based on age, gender, stage of development, and household situation.
Family- and Community-based Care
Our projects support children in family- and community-based interventions only. LifeRise does not support institutional orphan care, including orphanages or group homes with more than 10 children per home. We believe family and community care is more in accordance with God’s design for the family as the preferred structure to raise children; allows children to remain part of their culture rather than placing them in an artificial environment; is more beneficial for child development; is a more healthy setting, as communicable diseases are not as readily spread; and is less expensive and more sustainable.
Service Projects
Our projects support children in aggregate projects that provide services. This means we do not give cash transfers or conduct individual child sponsorship. We may partner with organizations which conduct sponsorship programs, however.
