Tanzania

UNAIDS Tanzania Country Report

Women, young people and people most at risk are among those most affected by HIV. UNAIDS Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS Country Situation Analysis can be found online.

Facts on Orphan & Vulnerable Children (OVC)

FAQs about children orphaned by AIDS can be found at:
http://data.unaids.org/Publications/Fact-Sheets03/fs_orphans_africa_en.pdf
http://data.unaids.org/pub/InformationNote/2006/QA_PartI_en_Nov06.pdf

History of the Adopt-a-Village Program

The Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church of North America launched the Adopt-a-Village program in January 2006 to assist with funding for the increasing number of orphans in the Sikonge and Tabora region of Western Tanzania. Africans have traditionally cared for orphans in an extended family, typically headed by an uncle. Although some larger cities now have orphanages, these are poor and very expensive substitutes for the loving environment provided by family members. Unfortunately, as the AIDS pandemic has continued to take its toll on the young adults, the extended family has become overextended; it is now typically headed by an elderly grandparent who is ill equipped for this unanticipated responsibility.

Management of the Adopt-a-Village Program

While many children have been orphaned by AIDS, The Adopt-a-Village orphan program enrolls any child under the age of 16 that has lost one or both parents, regardless of cause or religious affiliation. The program is run entirely by women from the Moravian Church of Western Tanzania. In the city of Tabora, 366 children in 5 Moravian parishes are enrolled in the orphan program. In the Sikonge district 31 villages have a total of 3,293 orphans enrolled in the orphan program. Both sections of the program provide the children with food, clothing, school supplies and uniforms, medical care, and personal items such as soap, skin oil, and sheets or sleeping mats.

Support for the Adopt-a-Village Program:

Financial support for the Adopt-a-Village program comes from Church, individuals and organizations in North America. A contribution of $1000 meets the needs of 50 children for a year. The program offers both physical and emotional support while allowing the children to remain with family members in their own village. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated; twenty dollars will support an orphan for a year!

• Download Adopt-a-Village Enrollment Form [pdf]
• Download Adopt-a-Village Pamphlet [pdf]