Swaziland Children

Imagine yourself as a 12-year-old orphan with three siblings to support. Your home is a hut in disrepair. You have no food. And there are some eager to take advantage of you or the brothers and sisters you love and want to protect. --That is life in Swaziland for thousands of children without the help of a carepoint.

Swaziland is a small country, about the size of New Jersey and is completely surrounded South Africa. Though it is small in size, it is home to a nation of orphans. Half of the population is under the age of 15. Children of 15 years of age and younger are heads of households. A generation of parents is dying of Hiv/Aids.

The remaining grandmothers do what they can, but few of them can support their own grandchildren, much less a village of children, orphaned by this disease. Children's HopeChest and its partners provide food, which the grandmothers of the village cook for the children. The sponsorship programs of Children's HopeChest provide a beacon of love and friendship in the lonely world of an orphan, providing not only food, but love, care, an education and the knowledge that God loves them and will never forget them.

I am a volunteer with Children's HopeChest helping match caring sponsors with needy, orphaned and vulnerable children in Swaziland, Africa.

For around a $1 a day, $34 per month, you can save the life of a child and also help them to know God loves them and cares for them.

The sponsorship program of Children's HopeChest is holistic and long-term. They address the following five areas of need:

Spiritual Development

- Every 50 kids will have 1 discipler assigned to them. The discipler will meet with the kids weekly and act as a mentor to them.

Physical Development

- Most extreme and basic needs first: Food, Clothing, Shelter, etc.

Educational Development

- Make sure that the kids make it through primary and secondary school, as well as trade school or university.

Medical/Dental Needs

Emotional Needs

- Counseling needs for any abandonment issues, etc.

Life Skills- Teaching them how to live independently as some of them age out of orphan care.

They handle the translation and delivery of your letters to and from your sponsored child and provide birthday and Christmas gifts for no extra charge.

Eighty-percent of every dollar donated to Children’s HopeChest goes towards orphan care. Twenty-percent covers administrative and fundraising costs. Children’s HopeChest is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, http://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=9968 and gladly submits to annual audits. They are a highly-rated charity by Charity Navigator, as well. http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=8290

Here are some videos to help you understand what a carepoint is, and why it is so necessary for these children.