| Let's start with a horrific fact. UNICEF reports that | | | | are burdened with the responsibility of looking after |
| 24,000 children under 5 die each day mostly from | | | | their brothers and sisters, ruling out any possibility of |
| poverty-related causes. If you were to include | | | | gaining an education and breaking free of the cycle |
| children up to age 10, that number would be much | | | | of poverty. Left alone, they are forced to fend for |
| higher. Child mortality in the world's poorest countries | | | | themselves and, with precious little food, these |
| is a matter of extreme concern - it means one child | | | | youngest members of the community are the most |
| dies every three seconds because of poverty. But | | | | likely to lose in the scramble to survive. |
| the world isn't just sitting back and doing nothing - | | | | Adult AIDS victims often leave behind not only |
| child sponsorship through Christian ministries means | | | | children, but elderly relatives who have little means to |
| that a lot of children who would otherwise be dead | | | | provide for themselves. In 2003, 12 million children |
| today now have a chance to grow up and make a | | | | were newly orphaned in southern Africa, a number |
| difference in their communities. | | | | expected to rise to 18 million in 2010. These children |
| Christian ministries - not just about God | | | | rely on the help of Christian ministries and aid |
| Christian ministries are not just about spreading the | | | | agencies to help them survive the most vulnerable |
| Word and love of Jesus Christ. They offer practical, | | | | time in their lives. Such ministries and agencies help |
| hands-on solutions in some of the most challenging | | | | find care, food and medical help. Many of these |
| and difficult circumstances. Every day, missionaries | | | | children are living with HIV or AIDs themselves, |
| from a wide range of churches are in the field helping | | | | having been infected in the womb. The work that aid |
| to ensure that children get food, clean water, and | | | | agencies and missionaries do is a vital lifeline (literally) |
| access to basic medical care and education. They're | | | | for these children. |
| actively involved in helping small, desperately poor | | | | Sponsorship - making a difference |
| communities rebuild basic infrastructure such as roads, | | | | By sponsoring a child, you are providing the aid |
| schools and shelters. They welcome everyone, | | | | agency or ministry with the money to offer vital |
| regardless of age, race or religion. They do this | | | | health care such as HIV treatments and enough food |
| because they want to make a difference in people's | | | | to help them grow physically strong enough to fight |
| lives and give a voice to those who have none. | | | | infections that may otherwise kill them. Through this |
| Christian ministries work closely with aid organizations | | | | system, millions of children in the developing world |
| to tackle one of the biggest causes of child mortality | | | | are alive today. This vital support can make their lives |
| in developing countries: the spread of HIV and AIDS. | | | | better, giving them that most important of things in |
| Since the AIDS epidemic began, at least 25 million | | | | life: hope. Christian ministries care about each and |
| people have died from the illness, and more than 15 | | | | every one of their charges, and in a situation where |
| million children have lost at least one parent to it. For | | | | it seems that nobody cares, that's a crucial role to |
| its analysis, UNICEF uses a term that illustrates the | | | | play. Through sponsorship and the valiant work of |
| gravity of the situation: "child-headed households," or | | | | Christian ministries, the child mortality rate can be |
| minors orphaned by AIDS who are raising their | | | | reversed, as long as everyone is prepared to play an |
| siblings. These children lose not only their parents, but | | | | active role. |