This report addresses the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on children and families in Sub-Saharan Africa, a region that is home to over 80% of the 15 million children under the age of 18 who have been orphaned by the pandemic worldwide. The health, education, safety, and survival of increasing numbers of children are particularly at risk in African countries that are heavily affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty and disease. According to this report, the most promising solutions to this mounting crisis should look beyond orphanages and institutional care to more sustainable, cost-effective, and developmentally appropriate alternatives.

The first line of support for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS is family and community. This publication highlights the programmes and strategies that help ensure that children remain in family care within their communities by reducing discrimination, ensuring access to education, creating income, and providing direct support.

According to the report, one of the greatest challenges that grassroots groups face is that their work is under-recognised and under-funded. It is therefore the intent of this report to provide readers with a better understanding of community-based organisations and the vital role they play in supporting the needs of children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. The report is meant to be both a summary and a guide to current and future donors – foundations, individuals, and faith-based organisations – eager to help address the HIV/AIDS pandemic wisely.

The document outlines a range of different strategies directed at supporting family and community-based care. These include:

• Grassroots Groups Grow in Response to Real Needs
  
  Examining how different communities identify their priorities demonstrates that there is no single right way to do things. Problems are best addressed when the people directly involved in a situation develop their own solutions. Many community groups start by providing one type of assistance and then add on other services as they see the need. A variety of strategies offer the best results. This section highlights the range of programmes and strategies that organisations use to address the effects of HIV/AIDS on children and families in their communities.
• Raising Awareness Inspires Action
  
  As long as people are ignorant of the needs of vulnerable children or are fearful of contracting HIV/AIDS from simple social contact, there will be children left uncared for. Many groups educate people about the responsibility they all share to protect orphans and vulnerable children. A common approach is to form “Orphan Care Committees” that bring together a cross-section of community members to identify children in need and develop a plan of action. Many organisations also work to reduce the high level of discrimination associated with the disease through outreach and education. These programmes help ensure that children and their families receive the acceptance and support crucial to their survival.
• Community Groups Provide HIV-Prevention Information
  
  Every new HIV infection puts increasing numbers of children at risk. Education is the key to prevention. A growing number of groups provide reproductive health education in places where such topics have never been discussed openly. They work within the culture of the communities, use peer educators, and address the myths about HIV/AIDS. The involvement of young people (who are at the highest risk for becoming infected) is key to building community awareness, increasing voluntary HIV-testing, and changing sexual behaviours to reduce the spread of the disease.

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