The Need
The disease of HIV/AIDS has devastated millions of African families leaving many children orphaned and in crisis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) an estimated 14 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa have lost their mother or both parents to HIV/AIDS. In Kenya alone, there are over one million HIV/AIDS orphans and the number continues to rise.
The effects of HIV/AIDS coupled with poverty have particularly devastated children in rural communities. Rural areas are less likely to benefit from governmental as well as from non-governmental HIV/AIDS programs due to lack of accessibility. Rural families have therefore had to rely more heavily on extended family and kinship support. Unfortunately, HIV/AIDS is generating orphans so rapidly that those traditional safety-net structures are no longer able to cope. As a result, many orphaned children find themselves in desperate situations, usually with no one to care for them and with no hope for the future.
Children in rural communities whose parents fall sick or die from HIV/AIDS have few choices. Some are able to remain in their homesteads and form child-headed households, where the older children assume responsibility for their younger siblings. Others find their way to cities and towns where they survive by begging, stealing or prostituting themselves for survival, thereby running the risk of becoming sick themselves. Yet others end up in orphanages, usually far away from their home villages, where no one understands their language. Many orphanages face overcrowding and are ill equipped to meet the Children’s individual needs.
Sponsorships
Sponsorship Program FAQ’s
What does sponsoring a child mean?
You tell us what type of a child you wish to sponsor (boy or girl and age range). You will then be matched with a child in the Graceworks Sponsorship Program. Your monthly donation will be sent to our Kenyan Program Coordinator to facilitate the benefits of the sponsorship for your child. This includes paying for school fees and uniforms and ensuring that they receive their monthly food allocation and emotional support. All you are required to do is make your monthly payment and we take care of the rest!
Will I receive a monthly statement or payment coupon?
Each month, you will receive a reminder that your monthly pledge is due. You can opt to receive this reminder by paper or electronically via email. In order to best facilitate our program, we request that you make your payments by the 15th of the month. Payments can be made in the form of check, credit card or on line via PAYPAL. You will receive a statement at the end of the year with your total donation amount. If you like, you may pre-pay your monthly pledge for the whole year at any time.
What percentage of my sponsorship money benefits my child directly?
100% of your monthly pledge will go to your sponsored child! Graceworks currently has only one paid staff in Kenya whose salary is paid out of general funds. Your child will directly experience the benefits of your monthly or annual pledge.
How do I communicate with my child?
You may write letters or send postcards or pictures to your child as often as you like. Letters and all other correspondence should be sent to Graceworks and we will facilitate the direct receipt of your correspondence to your child. The children will be encouraged to correspond with you via letters at least twice per year.
May I send my sponsored child a gift?
Although you may feel inclined to send your child special gifts during the year, our sponsorship program is very new to the communities that we serve and not every child may have a sponsor soon. We therefore ask that you refrain from sending gifts specifically to your child as this may cause a feeling of exclusion to other children without sponsors. We will notify you if a special need arises with your child so that you may assist him or her.
What else can I do to help?
Spread the word. Graceworks is seeking to expand our sponsorship program. We hope to have 200+ children sponsored by the end of 2010. Encourage your friends, neigbors, colleagues, co-workers etc. to learn more about Graceworks and to sponsor a child. For other volunteer opportunities, please check the website regularly for upcoming events or contact us by telephone or via email.
|
