HIV and AIDS Worldwide The Greatest Humanitarian Crisis of Our Time

HIV and AIDS Crisis The Statistics  25 million people worldwide have died from AIDS- related causes, and more than 38 million are currently infected  15.2 million children under age 17 are orphans due to HIV/AIDS-related causes  More than 90% of those living with HIV/AIDS are in developing countries

HIV and AIDS: the effect on children A Generation to Save  Parents are sick or dying and can’t work to care for their children  Children must leave school to care for their family’s needs–and orphans must fend for themselves  Grandparents often care for a dozen or more orphaned grandchildren  HIV-positive mothers unknowingly pass the virus to their newborn or breast-feeding children

Orphans at Risk in Uganda  Juliet, 12, and five orphans live on their own (Her father died of AIDS in 1998; her mother died in 2003)  Juliet weeds cassava for her neighbor in order to pay for school supplies; the headmaster sends her home when she can’t pay for paper  Her brother and sister already dropped out of school  If they can’t stay in school, girls like Juliet are vulnerable to sexual abuse and early marriages

Orphans at Risk in Guatemala  Cornelia is a 71-year-old grandmother who is now the sole parent for her three grandchildren, after her son and daughter-in-law died of AIDS  She is too exhausted to do more than make sure the children have food and a place to sleep  Her granddaughter was forced to leave school and take a job as a maid at age 14

Faith in Action God’s Word Speaks “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphan and widows in their distress…” – James 1:27a “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” – Isaiah 58:9b-10

A Christian Response To the HIV/AIDS Crisis The power of the church:  United in a response motivated by God’s love for all people  A trusted part of communities ravaged by AIDS  Has the authority to speak on behavioral issues to prevent the spread of HIV “This can be a golden moment for Christians. Who better to offer comfort to the dying, to care for the orphans and widows? Who better to bring hope to the hopeless?” – Rich Stearns, President, World Vision

You Can Turn the Tide Towards Hope  Pray for God’s care and protection for orphans, widows, and families overwhelmed by HIV/AIDS  Become informed about the facts of the crisis— and share your knowledge  Commit to action by engaging your congregation in a project to turn the tide against HIV/AIDS through your denomination or a Christian charity

World Vision How Are We Responding? The Hope Initiative World Vision’s commitment to save a generation by turning the tide against HIV/AIDS worldwide  Care for the needs of orphans, widows, vulnerable children, and their caregivers: food, healthcare, schooling, nurturing  Prevent new HIV infections through effective education based on biblical principles of abstinence and marital faithfulness

World Vision Uniquely Positioned to Respond  A global presence in nearly 100 countries, including 17 of those most severely affected by HIV/AIDS  More than 10 years of AIDS programs in Uganda: HIV infection rates reduced; graduation rates increased  Partnering with the local church, private organizations, and governments to help AIDS- affected communities  Efficient use of donated funds: 84 cents of every dollar goes directly to help