HIV/AIDS is orphaning generations of children in Africa south of the Sahara, say UNICEF, USAID and other experts.

Today there are over 11 million orphans. By 2010 the number will be 20 million - that is 15-25% of all children in the region. HIV/AIDS mainly kills people of working age. Other adults have to stop work to care for the sick. Extended families and communities are being overwhelmed.

So orphans typically experience poverty, sickness, lack of education, exploitation and psychological damage - on top of the pain of losing a parent.

The United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS urged the international community:

“to support programs for children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS... and to direct special assistance to sub-Saharan Africa.”

The big challenge, says USAID, is to scale up small local initiatives. Currently they cope with thousands of children - they must learn to care for millions!

That’s why the Goal Foundation has chosen AIDS orphans as its major focus.

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