“The World Cup Project”:
Children of the Dawn has been allocated 187 tickets for 4 Soccer World Cup Games in June! In recognition of our work, FIFA’s 2010 World Cup Football for Hope Ticket Fund run by official sponsor Sony has donated these tickets for Children of the Dawn beneficiaries. Now we have to transport the lucky 146 children and their caregivers to the games… so we need your financial support! When you make a donation towards this World Cup Project, you will be entered in a lucky draw that will see two generous donors be given two tickets for the Ghana vs Germany Game – Soccer City – 20h30, 23rd of June, to accompany our children in their fantastic adventure. Please make your donation under the ref your name by following this link. We probably need some R40’000 to transport all the lucky children. A donation of R200 would take care of the transport needs of 1 child, chosen through a lucky drawn amongst 10 years and older. We rely on your generosity to make sure this very very exciting adventure become true!”
Children of the Dawn - Who we are
South Africa is one of the worst affected countries in the world, as far as the HIV/AIDS epidemic goes. With some 5.5 million people living with HIV, South Africa is the country with the largest number of infections in the world. In 2004, UNAIDS (United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS) estimated that 25.2% of pregnant urban women (15-24) were carrying the virus.
The dramatic increase of the number of orphans, as a direct consequence of the pandemic, is often forgotten. According to UNAIDS estimates for the year 2005, South Africa counted 1’200’000 AIDS orphans (0-17) having lost either parent or both. The projections show that in 2010, more than 1’700’000 children could be AIDS orphans, that is 74% of the total number of orphans. One must understand that most AIDS orphans are not infected themselves.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic leaves behind a devastating trail of suffering and despair. Family structures are destroyed and income flows disappear. Even before death stage, children are most hit by the consequences of the disease. Their schooling, health, and socialisation processes are at stake. More globally, the human and financial losses incurred through the pandemic put the young South African democracy at risk.
Considering the scale of the pandemic, institutional care of these orphans cannot be a sustainable solution. The solution lies at community level.
Despite or due to the limited capacity of the South African government, rural communities have mobilised themselves and their community to find innovative solutions to the problems created by the pandemic, and particularly to help AIDS orphans. However, these pro-active and motivated informal teams often lack financial and technical capacities to achieve their potential. Children of the Dawn has been created to change this situation. We take a community approach to orphan and vulnerable children care, by empowering communities in their mobilisation around affected children.
