| There are millions of orphans in Africa due to the | | | | health hazard i.e. the dilapidated houses and ragged |
| wars, HIV/AIDS, malaria, natural disasters. Poverty | | | | clothes. These orphans need a better roof over their |
| and HIV/AIDS pandemic are the leading cause of the | | | | head just to survive from the cold and rain. Forget |
| increase in African orphans. The children are often | | | | about the play stations and Nintendos - a handful of |
| left without parents and with no food to eat | | | | porridge, a roof over their heads and something to |
| because of these problems. There is a great need | | | | cover their skin with is all they need. |
| for food supply to feed them mostly because they | | | | So as much as the African community is responsible |
| run a greater risk of being malnourished and stunted | | | | for these children it is only human to lend a helping |
| than children who are well taken care of i.e. living in | | | | hand no matter where you are - whether in |
| happy homes with both parents still alive and giving | | | | developing or developed countries. Some say |
| them love and protection. | | | | Africans mess up and hope to get help from others, |
| There are a large number of African orphans who | | | | well, a lot can be said on this matter and while |
| are as little as five years and live alone or with their | | | | debating about that, hundreds of thousands of |
| younger siblings or on the streets. The only hope for | | | | innocent souls may die without even knowing the |
| the children is finding them shelter at orphanages or | | | | reason why. |
| being adopted by families in other countries. Many | | | | There are over 48 million orphans in sub-Saharan |
| orphanages provide the opportunity to these | | | | Africa alone; UNICEF states that 12 million of these |
| sponsoring families to host African orphans by either | | | | orphans have lost at least one parent to HIV/AIDS. |
| proving donations or adopting them into their homes. | | | | That means that by 2010 AIDS orphans will make up |
| To put it bluntly, African orphans are in great need of | | | | 15 to 20 percent of the population in some African |
| shelter and clothing. Most of those living in rural areas | | | | countries. This shows that if nothing is done about |
| live in such impoverished situations even the | | | | the HIV/AIDS pandemic many children in Africa will |
| inheritance left behind by death parents become a | | | | be without parents. |