It Takes a Village to Raise an Orphan
Bernadette, Rosemary, Achola
Throughout Africa orphanages are sheltering children who have lost their families to HIV/AIDS. Many of these orphans are struggling with HIV infection themselves.
Bernadette Otieno's nephew avoided placement in an orphanage because she was able to make a home for her nephew after his mother, Bernadette's sister, died from HIV/AIDS. Although her nephew eventually also died, Bernadette is convinced that he stayed healthy much longer than expected because he remained with her in his home village. Her nephew was surrounded by loving care-givers in the community where his family always lived.
In her village of Dunga, outside Kisumu, Kenya, Bernadette founded a group of 12 women dedicated to home-based orphan care. Bernadette estimates there are 1,000 more orphans in her area who need homes. Calling themselves Mothers of St. Rita, Bernadette and her colleagues have persuaded villagers to take in 43 orphans in the past seven years.
Bernadette Otieno's nephew avoided placement in an orphanage because she was able to make a home for her nephew after his mother, Bernadette's sister, died from HIV/AIDS. Although her nephew eventually also died, Bernadette is convinced that he stayed healthy much longer than expected because he remained with her in his home village. Her nephew was surrounded by loving care-givers in the community where his family always lived.
In her village of Dunga, outside Kisumu, Kenya, Bernadette founded a group of 12 women dedicated to home-based orphan care. Bernadette estimates there are 1,000 more orphans in her area who need homes. Calling themselves Mothers of St. Rita, Bernadette and her colleagues have persuaded villagers to take in 43 orphans in the past seven years.
Mothers of St. Rita offer a new pattern of hope and community to villages ravaged by HIV/AIDS.
St. Rita's at lunchtime
The group was recently nominated for the World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child. Despite their own poverty, village families want to help the orphans. However, they need support.
