The need of sponsorship to families of Children

The plight of orphans of genocide and HIV/AIDS is rather singular. (One crucial and terrible product emerging from the aftermath of the genocide is the ‘child headed household'). Children ranging from the age of 12 are suddenly rendered fathers and mothers to their siblings. They lose the right to be children. Added to these responsibilities, they are forced to abandon school to care for their younger siblings. A recent survey showed that a number of CHH spend an average of 3 days a week without food.

Teenage girls fall victim to sexual harassment. Some become pregnant by the early age of 14. As a result of rape during the war and genocide, others are suffering from HIV/AIDS. Many of these children end up in the streets.

These children will often have no known close relative. They are alone. They decide everything on their own. They have lost the opportunity of that carefree life that so many children elsewhere take for granted.

Almost all families headed by children face the same problem; poverty. In addition to this, there is the common problem of lack of an authority figure in every family.

FTI believes this entire situation is serious enough to warrant our help.

FTI proposes to address this issue by sponsoring these families through our partner organisation - Solace Ministries.

Sponsorship would entail a regular commitment that supports or empowers a child or a family of children until they are grown up and sufficiently independent to fend for themselves.