Babies at the Crisis Nursery in Malawi. Photo by Frank Dimmock.

An orphan is defined as a child under the age of 18 who has had at leas one parent die. A child whose mother has died is known as a maternal orphan; a child whose father has died is a paternal orphan. A child who has lost both parents is a double orphan.

The worst orphan crisis is in sub-Saharan Africa, where 12 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. By 2010, this number is expected to climb to more than 18 million. As staggering as these numbers are, the crisis will worsen if parents struck by HIV do not get access to life-prolonging treatment and effective prevention services.

Some countries have yet to experience the full impact of parental deaths. For example, in South Africa, the number of orphans is expected to increase from 2.2 million (12 percent of all children) in 2003 to 3.1 million (18 percent of all children) by 2010. Even in countries where HIV prevalence has stabilized or declined, the number of orphans continues to rise due to the time lag between when parents become infected and when they die.

Without the protective environment of their homes, orphaned children face increased risk of violence, exploitation and abuse. They may be ill-treated by their guardians, and dispossessed of their inheritance and property. Those living with foster families are more likely to be malnourished, underweight or short for their age in comparison to non-orphans (Monasch and Snoad, 2003).

Preserving some sort of family life is extremely important for children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS, whether the family is headed by the lone remaining parent, a grandparent or another relative. Women and girls of all ages are shouldering much of the burden of the orphan crisis. Young girls may drop out of school to tend to ailing parents, look after household duties, or care for younger siblings. Mothers are more likely than fathers to continue to care for their children after the death of the spouse, and women are more willing to take in other orphans.

Ensuring access to education is critical in responding to the orphan crisis. Orphans often fall behind or drop out of school, compromising their psychosocial development and future prospects. This also affects a country’s long-term recovery from the epidemic.

Church Response:
Community-based orphan care centers in Malawi