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Project Location: |
Siteki, Swaziland
[ click for map ] |
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Project Type: |
School, Church, and Care Point Facility |
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Project Purpose: |
To feed, cloth, educate, and care for the community through the orphaned children
of the region. |
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Cause of Need: |
In Swaziland, over 43% of the people have tested positive with the AIDS Virus.
This, along with drought in the region and poor economic growth, has decimated the
population of Swaziland leaving the children to fend for themselves, live with friends,
or live with a relative. Many times the oldest child will assume authority
over their brothers and sisters often time resulting in a child 12 or younger providing
for several children younger then themselves through food donated by the community.
While Swaziland is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, it is one of the poorest
in the world. The average person makes less than R3,500 (approx. $500 dollars)
per year.
The solution is simple but is made difficult through the countries social norms
and religious beliefs. Many in Swaziland believe in ancestrial worship, meaning
the happenings of today are based on those who lived in the past. This belief
system alleviates the Swazi people from the responsibility of their actions today.
They do not believe AIDS is a result of their promiscuity but rather a curse from
a previous generation.
We are working to change this through service. Service begets trust.
Trust opens doors to education. Education practiced results in knowledge and that
is what is leading to a change for those who live in the town of Siteki.
To find out how you can help please click on the next tab. |
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