Young people who have lost one or both parents have multifaceted needs, particularly in the era of AIDS. Adolescent orphans require different kinds of assistance than children; in some ways their needs are more complex than the needs of younger orphans because of physical and psychological development during puberty and the steps needed to move toward independence and adulthood.
Worldwide, the number of orphans would be decreasing except for AIDS. About eight of every 10 of those orphaned due to AIDS live in Africa. Perhaps the most important statistic for this topic is the fact that an estimated 55 percent of all orphans under age 18 are adolescents.
Despite the demographics, most programs working with orphans do not focus on the particular needs of adolescents: secondary education or livelihood training, sexual and reproductive health education and services, psychosocial and social support for the difficult transition to adulthood, and adult mentors as role models.
Many orphans and other vulnerable children are themselves living with HIV/AIDS, caring for siblings and chronically ill family members, and living in financially stretched households that have absorbed other children affected by HIV. Some orphans engage in high-risk behaviors to support themselves and their families. According to studies in multiple countries, orphans are more likely than non-orphans to suffer from poor nutrition, lack access to basic health care, miss school, and face psychological and emotional difficulties. Children orphaned by AIDS face the added burden of stigma and discrimination surrounding the disease.
Reproductive health programs targeting youth frequently ignore or fail to reach the most vulnerable young people. Providing reproductive health and HIV/AIDS education and services is critical as orphans are vulnerable to risky sexual behaviors.
The impact of HIV/AIDS on youth and their families is not a simple problem with an easy solution. The situation is complex, interrelated on all levels of life, and cuts across all sectors of development.
The following resources from YouthNet and Family Health International highlight the plight of orphans around the world:
Youth Issues Paper 6. Adolescents: Orphaned and Vulnerable in the Time of HIV/AIDS (PDF, 320K). This 30-page paper introduces the key issues affecting adolescents who are orphaned or vulnerable because of HIV/AIDS. Despite the fact that the majority of orphans are adolescents, most programs working with orphans do not focus on the particular needs of adolescents: secondary education or livelihood training, sexual and reproductive health education and services, psychosocial and social support for the difficult transition to adulthood, and adult mentors as role models. The paper includes analysis, program summaries, four case studies, and recommendations for action.
YouthLens 18. Adolescents: Orphaned and Vulnerable in the Time of HIV and AIDS. (PDF, 142K) Orphaned adolescents, the largest segment of all orphans, have needs that are often neglected by programs working with orphans and vulnerable children, including secondary education, livelihood training, and reproductive health education and services.
Results of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Head of Household Baseline Survey in Four Districts in Zambia (2002). Family Health International, 2002.
Orphan and Vulnerable Children Archive. Family Health International.
Resources from organizations other than FHI include:
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- Children Affected by AIDS (CABA)
An e-mail discussion list to share timely information on effective strategies to assist children orphaned or otherwise affected by AIDS.
- Children on the Brink 2004: A joint report of new orphan estimates and a framework for action. UNAIDS, UNICEF, USAID, 2004.
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- Orphans of Zambia
National Public Radio examines AIDS and its effect on Zambian children in this three-part series aired on December 27, 28, and 29, 2000. Listen to this series online.
Alliance for Youth Achievement
Partners with organizations that work with orphans and street children to promote capacity building. The Alliance currently assists programs in Thailand, Vietnam, Uganda, and Kenya.
Association Franois-Xavier Bagnoud
An international nongovernmental organization active in advocacy regarding children orphaned by AIDS and community-based responses to their needs. AFXB's web site includes news and information about children affected by the AIDS pandemic, documents, and a list of related websites.
AFXB also manages an AIDS Orphans Assistance Database, an on-line tool that allows users to enter information, search for, learn about, and contact others interested in helping children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Casa Alianza
An independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and defense of street children in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Information on HIV/AIDS and street children within these countries can be found on this Web site.
Catholic AIDS Action
An NGO based in Namibia working on prevention, care, and support of people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans and other vulnerable children.
Child Rights Information Network
Network of more than 1,000 child rights organizations around the world. CRIN strives to improve the lives of children through the exchange of information about child rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF)
Helps meet the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS by advocating and educating on their behalf. The US-based foundation has funded several media projects to raise awareness of the epidemic's impact on African children.
Children in Distress (CINDI) An informal consortium of non-government organizations based in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. CINDI's web site provides an overview of projects addressing care and support of AIDS orphans in South Africa and includes papers from the Southern African Conference "Raising the Orphan Generation."
Children in Need Network
A network of nongovernmental organizations, community-based organizations, and government departments working with children in need in Zambia.
Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF)
Strives to strengthen the capacity of families and communities to provide care, support, and protection for orphans, unaccompanied minors, and war-affected children.
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The leading worldwide nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying, funding, and conducting pediatric HIV/AIDS research.
Hope for African Children Initiative
An initiative to increase the capacity of African communities to provide care, services, and assistance to children affected by HIV/AIDS and their families. A collaborative project by CARE, Plan International, Save the Children, the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa, and The World Conference on Religions and Peace.
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)
Links national autonomous Family Planning Associations in more than 180 countries worldwide. IPPF supports HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs worldwide, and emphasizes outreach to young people.
Listening to Children and Young People
Children in Scotland is conducting a research project in three cities to reach children and young people whose parents or guardians are HIV-positive.
Mothers Without Borders
Serves children in orphanages in Romania, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Nepal, and Bolivia and those living in the streets in Africa and India. Mothers Without Borders supports the efforts of local communities and non-governmental organizations in addressing the needs of orphaned children.
Plan International
Has established an initiative called 'Hope for African Children,' which aims to support African communities by increasing their capacity to provide care, services, and assistance to children affected by HIV/AIDS. This initiative brings together five international development organizations.
Save the Children UK
Save the Children UK is a leading international children's charity, working in more than 70 countries worldwide. For information on HIV/AIDS and young people please click the development link within the Web site.
Save the Children USA
Works in 45 countries to provide health care, education, and economic opportunities to children in need. Click on above link to learn about their programs targeting children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Street Children
A worldwide resource library on street children.
The Uganda Women's Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO)
Helps Ugandan children who have been left orphaned and destitute by war and AIDS. Most of the children are being cared for in the community, especially through the extended family system. UWESO projects help women and young people become self-reliant by providing local, sustainable income-generating programs.
The World Bank - Children Affected by AIDS
Provides documents and related links on orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS.
U.K. National Children's Bureau
Currently conducting research that aims to identify the needs and views of children living with HIV/AIDS, in order to inform the development of appropriate support services.
UNICEF
The HIV/AIDS section of the Web site highlights the organization's programs and priorities for combating the pandemic, which emphasize both prevention and care and support. The site includes news and feature stories, information on upcoming events, and links to HIV/AIDS-related sites.
United Nations Special Session on Children
This UNICEF site on the 2002 U.N. Special Session on Children includes accomplishments, expected outcomes, and partnership information on the Session, as well as a follow-up report on the 1990 World Summit for Children.
Youth Against AIDS
Youth Against AIDS, based in New York, is a campaign to initiate HIV/AIDS dialogue among youth, empower youth to take action, and develop a youth action plan.
