Impact of AIDS
The most devastating effect of AIDS is on the children of Africa. In Swaziland in particular almost 25% of all children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
AIDS is creating a generation of orphans.
There are an estimated 11,000 child headed households in Swaziland today with 8000 children becoming orphaned monthly.
Many of the orphaned children are preyed upon by other family members, or criminals. They often subjected to horrific sexual and physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their "caretakers".
Orphanages have been set up to try and help these kids in crisis, but the demand for caring institutions often exceeds to demands of this growing demographic.
The people on the ground helping these kids, need our help to sustain them in their daily operations. Just providing essential services like shelter, food, water and clothing is a challenge at best. The emotional needs and healing of the children often falls into second place.
How does a quilt help?A hand-made quilt, conveys a message of love and caring to the recipient. The kids who have been abandoned, often with no other family to interact with, have lost that sense of belonging to someone who cares. Receiving a quilt from a stranger extends the childrens sphere of caring interaction, that shows people really do care. Actions speak louder than words.A quilt is action ! |