Godfrey's Children - Tanzania

Godfrey's Children focuses on empowering communities to fight HIV/AIDS. The project develops close ties with government sectors, religious organisations, United Nations agencies, international development cooperation agencies, NGOs, companies, and individuals to assist community-based initiatives. Godfrey's Children also collaborates with youth and youth organisations around the world (see the full list under "Partners", below) as part of a commitment to create youth advocates.

Specific projects are designed to enable the most vulnerable families to meet their daily needs and to send their children to school. These activities include:

• Community AIDS Forums: two 3-day forums - one for children infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS and one for the entire community - were held in 2002 in Tanzania to identify needs, enhance local leadership capacities, and implement community projects. Participants identified priorities (shelter, food, education, health care, freedom to play, and love). In addition, child participants identified 5 income-generating projects they could work on (cultivating vegetables, raising chickens, planting trees, and creating traditional crafts) and adults vowed to focus efforts on project building and/or improving village infrastructure (ranging from creating an Orphan Center and a Health Center to road development and laying water pipes), as well as addressing orphan and village sustainability (by purchasing cows to provide milk for orphans and purchasing a community tractor to improve agricultural productivity).
• Nurturing Emerging African Leadership Program (NEAL): Godfrey's Children members are part of this Africa Bridge-sponsored programme, which seeks to help African leaders in the United States affirm life in Africa through leadership training and personal growth.
• Education Fund: funds are used to buy uniforms and books for orphaned and vulnerable children residing in rural areas. Funds also support adolescents seeking to gain practical skills through local mentoring.
• Internships: As part of a collaboration with The African Regional Youth Initiative, three volunteers will join Godfrey's Children in summer, 2003.
• Collection and Distribution of Goods: the group works with different organisations and friends to collect and send goods (i.e. clothes, bedsheets) to children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
• Pen Pal Program: students at Grandview Heights Elementary School in British Columbia, Canada learn about Tanzania in the classroom and exchange art and supplies with children in Idweli, Tanzania.

Examples of proposed future plans include the organisation of a reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention/education programme for women and the initiation of child and family counseling services. In addition, a children's centre will be built beginning in July 2003 to care for children who otherwise have no near or extended family. Children and grandparents will reside there; other offerings will include a facilty for community meetings, the provision of educational services to children within the community, and basic healthcare services.

HIV/AIDS, Children, Youth, Economic Development, Agriculture, Health.

According USAID projections, 4.2 million children in Tanzania will have lost their parents to AIDS by 2010 if current HIV infection rates do not drastically decrease. In these circumstances, families are cared for either by the very young or the very old. Children who lose a parent to AIDS suffer the grief and confusion experienced by any orphan. Their loss is often deepened by prejudice and social exclusion, including the loss of education, health care, or property. The resulting poverty and isolation can create a vicious circle, placing them at greater risk of contracting HIV themselves.