I have had a dream of Africa for as long as I can remember and knew someday the Lord would give me the vision for my purpose. After several trips to Kenya I clearly see the plight of the children of Kenya due to epidemics, poverty and violence. The Lord has called me to be a part of providing God’s grace through “Love’s Enduring Promise”.
Love’s Enduring Promise is a non-profit organization. The work of love can only begin and continue if people like you help us to care for these babies and children by becoming financial partners or by your donation to this ministry of love.
· Mayvonne Womack - March, 2008
- There are over 12 million Orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is estimated that 9% of all children have lost at least one parent to AIDS.
- Within just 3 years, this figure is predicted to rise to 15.7 million AIDS orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- In Kenya alone, it is estimated that there are 1,100,000 Orphans – with a similar number in South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
- The loss of one or both parents has serious consequences for a child’s access to basic necessities such as shelter, food, clothing, health and education.
- Many Orphans find they need to contribute financially to the household, in some cases driving them to the streets to work, beg or seek food.
- AIDS orphans often leave school to attend to ill family members, work or to look after young siblings.
- Typically, half of all people with HIV become infected before they are aged 25, develop AIDS and die by the time they are 35 and leave behind a generation of children to be raised by their grandparents, other adult relatives or left on their own in child-headed households.
- Often orphans are the first to be denied education as extended families cannot afford to educate all the children of the household.
- The physical needs of orphans, such as nutrition, education and health care, often appear to be the most urgent. But the emotional needs of traumatised children who have lost a parent should not be forgotten.
- Many children already function as heads of households and as caregivers and need to be supported as part of the solution.
- Unicef (2006), ‘Africa’s Orphaned and Vulnerable Generations: Children Affected by AIDS’
