World Concern emphasizes a unique community- and family-centered approach to helping orphaned and vulnerable children.
Families in HIV/AIDS-impacted communities are often willing to help local orphans, but lack resources. So we support caregivers--often extended family members of orphans--with the resources they need. These may include food supplementation, livestock, business skills and basic hygiene training. Our hope is that the caregivers can find their way to self-sufficiency--where they're no longer dependent on handouts.
Often, caregivers can increase their income after receiving our business training and, perhaps, a small loan. They start small businesses--like selling soap, tailoring or raising animals--that help provide for their families.
While we work with the caregivers, we also train volunteers to individually serve and identify the needs of orphans. Since the kids all carry a burden of grief, we train our volunteers in grief and trauma counseling. Local churches supply many of our volunteer needs. They're excited to have a way to take part in caring for vulnerable people in their communities.
Our help for orphans also extends to primary education for orphaned children of all ages and leadership training for older teenagers in life skills like hygiene, nutrition and HIV/AIDS prevention.