| If projections are anything to go by the number of | | | | being infected with the HIV virus. |
| AIDS orphans in Swaziland increases at an alarming | | | | Having to cope with the pressure of being a student, |
| rate every year. Most of the AIDS orphans do not | | | | parent and everything else, there is just no time for |
| have both parents; it is in rare cases where one | | | | the orphans of AIDS to grow and enjoy life like any |
| parent is still alive. The situation is worse in | | | | normal child. I mean, before going to school in the |
| polygamous families because each wife has a number | | | | morning, for those that get paid for by the |
| of children with only one father - so when the father, | | | | government, they have to do what parents normally |
| who is usually the sole bread winner, dies the children | | | | do when sending off their kids to school. That is, |
| are left without food and proper care. | | | | wake the other siblings up, bath them, prepare their |
| To make matters worse, often the mothers also get | | | | meals (if by chance there is food in the house) and |
| infected with AIDS. Eventually the mothers die one | | | | then send them off to school. In most cases these |
| after the other and the children are often left to | | | | children have to walk long distances on barefoot just |
| fend for themselves. Even if relatives may try to | | | | to get to school - usually on an empty stomach. |
| ease the burden sometimes they are unable to help | | | | Imagine what they go through in winter without |
| because of the high number of the children. These | | | | much clothes and proper uniform and even summer |
| family are then child headed with the oldest being as | | | | under the scorching African sun. |
| young as five years. | | | | There is no doubt that AIDS orphans in Swaziland |
| Just before the parents die the AIDS orphans | | | | need as much assistance from people within the |
| actually become the parents to their parents i.e. the | | | | country and even outside the country. I have seen |
| older one has to look after them and his or her | | | | how some of these little ones have managed to |
| siblings. That often leaves the child emotionally | | | | defy all odds and made a good life for themselves. I |
| drained because he or she has to make sure there is | | | | have a friend who grew up exactly like this but has |
| food on the table for the parent(s) - because they | | | | turned out to be a source of inspiration. All it took |
| have to take their medication on a full stomach. To | | | | was one kind person who saw beyond his |
| make matters worse, this child who becomes a | | | | disadvantages and realized what a great person that |
| caretaker is usually not trained on how to care for an | | | | orphan of AIDS could be. |
| HIV infected person and thus becomes vulnerable to | | | | |