The problem of orphaned children in Africa is a tragic one, and Kenya ranks as one of the African countries most severely affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis. USAID estimates that morethan 2.5 million children in Kenya are orphaned, with more than 50% of them orphaned by AIDS. People living in rural communities of developing countries struggle to provide for orphaned children within their communities.
Orphaned children face even more difficulty than the life of poverty that most Kenyan children must endure. Many orphans end up on the streets, where they often have no choice but to resort to begging or prostitution to survive. Even orphans fortunate enough to be taken in by other family members are often neglected or abused.
While orphanages generally succeed at getting children off the street and providing for their basic needs, many fall short of offering the care, nurture and encouragement that children need to develop successfully. Going beyond the basics to meet the full spectrum of childrens’ needs is necessary to raise productive, capable and emotionally healthy adults who, in turn, can give back to their communities.
Kenya Statistics
Total Population – 31.6 million
Children under 15 – 13.1 million
Orphaned children – 2.5 million
% orphaned by HIV/AIDS – 53.8%
Children living with HIV/AIDS – 220,000
Infant mortality – 78 deaths per 1000 live births
Under-five mortality – 122 deaths per 1000 live births
Source: USAID report, October 2003
