Madeline is a 15 year old orphan and lives in the rural village of Bukine. Last year, her guardian grannie died and Madeline became very withdrawn and dropped out of school. The HOPEHIV funded community project found her living in a thatched hut 10 miles away helping a 25 year old widow, Jenny to take care of her seven children. The widow hoped to marry Madeline off in order to get a 'bride price' for her. The team counselled them and offered a creative alternative whereby Madeline would continue to live there and Jenny would join a start up loans group for orphan guardians helping her to start up a small business to support her family. One year later, Madeline is back in school and attending the Saturday kids club. Jenny has paid back the loan she borrowed and has a small poultry project that supports her family's basic needs.
HOPEHIV's Tanzania project reaches across nine communities providing vital support to over 4,000 orphaned and vulnerable children, many of whom are child headed households. Over 30 kids clubs have been set up to help children develop life and social skills in a fun environment. Local leaders, relatives, teachers and guardians are trained to provide counselling, home visits and welfare rights advice to orphans. One of the real achievements of the project has been offering orphans guardians training in business management accompanied by small loans. Over 100 orphan guardians have already benefited from this scheme, selling milk and food, cosmetics, timber and second hand clothes. The profits made enable them to keep orphans clothed and in school.
HOPEHIV want to continue to support the Tanzania project to economically empower more orphan guardians. But we need your help. Just 20 from you will give another guardian a small start up loan. DONATE NOW.