Supporting orphans presents challenges, opportunities
By George Arende

“Rising numbers of orphans and vulnerable children [OVC] remains a huge challenge, that requires innovation and dedication to overcome,” said Caroline Thuo, program coordinator for orphans and vulnerable children for Giving HOPE

The statistics demonstrate the truth in Thuo’s statement. The past three decades have seen an explosion in numbers of orphans and vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa with the UN estimating that there are 12 million children in Africa orphaned by AIDS. The report further says that 2 million OVCs live in Kenya alone.

These young people left to fend for themselves. “Most of the children are forced to become heads of families,”laments Caroline. Some as young as 12-years-old are tasked with caring and providing for their younger siblings.

“Community has more burden to care for those with HIV and AIDS, TB, and malaria,” she said, adding “responsibility of molding [the children’s lives] doesn’t function owing to such challenges.” Thuo is also focused on young people living in slums. “They are traumatized and need counseling. They are faced with so much pressure,” Thus said.

Giving Hope is a program operating in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, serving 8,309 households, accounting for 27,990 children. The program fosters independence by empowering children and young people whose lives have been derailed by poverty and disease to gain control and become productive. This is done by developing the skills and talents of the children.

The program also provides a support system and a resource database for economic and social knowledge advancement.

Thuo is happy working with children terming them ‘potential for the future’. Through her program Church World Service helps children utilize the best in their surrounding and become responsible and productive members of the society.