Where are the Parents?

While we could make a difference to the household in Inanda, there are so many child headed households living in dire conditions. A survey done by Stats SA in 2015 showed that there are around 90,000 children in as many as 50,000 child-headed households throughout South Africa. Without parental care or a regular income these households are at great risk.

Why is This Happening?

Child headed households is a socio-economic consequence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Parents are succumbing to the disease leaving children to fend for themselves.

The Magnitude of the Situation

Most of these children are living in informal settlements without electricity, or worse, with dangerous illegal connections. They tend to leave school because there simply are no resources for uniforms, stationery and school fees. In a situation where getting enough food, clothing and warmth is a challenge, education becomes a secondary concern. Many of these children are facing emotional trauma, exploitation, abuse, neglect and a lack of access to healthcare and education.

What we Can do About it

Everybody can do something to alleviate the suffering of another person. You could donate something towards the upkeep of a child headed household, arrange for home improvements, help with education or assist in some other way.  No matter what our abilities are or what resources we have, the least we can do is create awareness.

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