Rising up from the ashes

Posted: June 11, 2007   By: Staci Dennis

BUSHBUCKRIDGE, South Africa - As the death rate from HIV and AIDS climbs higher by the day, it means hundreds of thousands of children are left without parental care, becoming yet another statistic in the growing number of orphans in South Africa.

"My greatest need is to see the orphans of my town being taken care of and feeling wanted and loved," said Anna Themba, who founded Ebenezer Home Based Care, an organization that aims to provide education and job training to orphans. "We must educate and protect them – it is our duty."

Today, HIV has become a silent killer, claiming the lives of an estimated 25 million worldwide according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. In fact, since its discovery in 1981, HIV/AIDS has become one of the deadliest pandemics in recorded history.

In a town called Bushbuckridge, where Anna grew up, the pandemic is taking its toll. About 25 percent of an estimated population of 500,000 is suffering from HIV/AIDS, while those who are not infected live their lives sharing this burden.

"No one is excluded," Anna said.

Most families have at least one person who carries the virus. In many households, the average age of the eldest member is 16 years old. To make matters worse, unemployment has reached 58 percent, making poverty a major challenge.

Anna's vision for this program is to train and equip enough caregivers so that every orphan knows "they are wanted and loved." The 76-year-old also hopes to provide education to every child in need.

In addition, future plans include offering accommodations at the center for the "worst" cases of abused orphans and increasing the number of volunteer caregivers.