Millions of Orphans Due to AIDS: The Worst is Yet to Come
As the AIDS epidemic ravages sub-Saharan Africa, millions of lives and families are being destroyed, Over 17 million children have already been orphaned, and many millions more are living in families affected by HIV & AIDS. UNICEF estimates that by 2010, over 20 million children will be left without one or both parents.

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• RI Interactive video and article, March 6, 2007.
• Read their blog as they hiked across Africa. December 20, 2006 to January 4, 2007.

Rotary AIDS Hike in South Africa
from Johannsburg to Cape Town

By 2010 it is estimated there will be more than 20 million AIDS orphans globally. Yet, less than 5% of orphans and vulnerable children in Africa are currently receiving assistance.

The 2006-2007 theme for Rotary International is "Lead the Way." In that spirit, five international students studying in South Africa will hike 2010 kilometres - from Johannesburg to Cape Town - to highlight the needs of AIDS orphans and raise critical funds for children left homeless and at risk by the pandemic.

The Ivory Coast of Africa has many impoverished communities and HOPE worldwide is actively helping orphans and vulnerable children thanks to Rotarians for Fighting AIDS and the ANCHOR program. In the closing months of 2006, 353 children were directly touched by the generosity of Rotarians. For 37 of these children, RFFA funds paid school fees or apprenticeship costs. Another 228 received school kits containing text books, supplies and bags. And 25 young girls (all under the age of 17) are studying dressmaking with the help of RFFA funded sewing kits and notebooks.

The Rotary Club of Dunwoody, Georgia (District 6900), home club of RFFA Chair Marion Bunch, recently presented her with a $1,500(US) check for Orphan Rescue. The Club has honored each of its speakers this year with a donation to Orphan Rescue in their names. Dunwoody Rotary 2006-2007 President Anne Glenn also presented a check from the Harris County Rotary Club, Georgia (District 6900) in the amount of $200(US), representing the first international contribution by the Harris County Club which has 26 members.

The Anchor and Kenya Kids program in Kenya was very pleased to receive Ksh 208,730 which was credited to the Orphan Rescue account. Six families with over 20 children had been identified as the pioneer beneficiaries of this fund in Kenya. The selected families have various material needs but it was decided that assistance with tuition fee would be of greatest immediate help to them all. The recipients of the funds will be able to attend uninterrupted schooling for at least one full year. The care givers with the assistance of the programs will be able to work out how to meet the other needs which are not as financially demanding. The tuition fees, meals and uniform needs total Ksh 222,000.

...of hope for the future thanks to RFFA and Orphan Rescue, Hope worldwide and the Rotarians in Nigeria. These are just a few of the stories we received directly from the children you are helping.

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.

ANCHOR (Africa Network for Children Orphaned and at Risk) was officially launched at a two day workshop held in Johannesburg, South Africa in March 2006 for Rotarian leaders from six African countries. The seminar was aiming at individual Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to identify with the ANCHOR program and to get actively involved to support new ANCHOR sites.