In February, 2006, Rotarians for Fighting AIDS (RFFA) sent $4,500 to Hope worldwide Zambia to help orphans and vulnerable children. To put the amount in perspective, that is less than a family of four would spend on a 6 day vacation at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. But when invested with RFFA, that same $4,500 provided direct education support (uniforms, school fees, books) to 328 children and indirect support (primarily nutrition) to 488 orphans and vulnerable children.

In reporting about the use of these funds, Hope worldwide Zambia's experience highlights the fact that the obstacles preventing many orphans and vulnerable children from regularly attending school include both direct obstacles (no money for school uniforms or fees) and indirect obstacles (children too weak to attend school because of a lack of food or medical conditions, including HIV/AIDS). Fortunately, the money provided by RFFA and the caring assistance provided by Hope worldwide Zambia has helped over 800 children begin or continue their educations.

Here are three stories of the children RFFA and Hope worldwide has helped in Africa:

Everisto is 8 years old and a double orphan who is cared for by his grandfather. He is HIV positive and could not attend school because he was weak from lack of food. Now, he stops at the Hope worldwide office every morning for breakfast courtesy of Orphan Rescue funds. He's in school and doing well.

An 8 year old girl is cared for by her grandmother, having lost both parents when she was a baby. This small family can only afford one meal a day, resulting in malnutrition so severe that the girl required hospitalization. The hospital only agreed to discharge her once Hope worldwide stepped in with assurance that Orphan Rescue funds would ensure she received food. The funds also got her a school uniform, a pair of used shoes and paid for school fees. This young girl had never been in school before.

Another boy's single mother who is HIV positive was threatened with eviction because she could not pay the rent. Orphan Rescue funds helped with the rent for one month and the child is attending school.

Hope worldwide reports that the barriers preventing many children from attending school are desperate - a lack of food and disease. Orphan Rescue funds have helped to overcome those barriers for some children. Many of these children have no adult to speak for them when trying to get admitted to school. The government schools require a uniform and Hope worldwide has found the school authorities willing in some cases to waive fees if Orphan Rescue can help provide uniforms. Community schools (which charge a minimal fee and don't require uniforms) have extremely poor educational standards and lack basic equipment - and many were established for the express purpose of educating orphans and vulnerable children. Orphan Rescue funds have helped some of these schools obtain blackboards and other needed equipment.