Zimba
bwe continues to face severe economic decline and political unrest under the controversial leadership of President Mugabe. Life expectancy in Zimbabwe has dropped to 37 years because of HIV/AIDS and estimated 1 in 5 infection rates have left over a million orphans. Many Zimbabweans are leaving the country creating a severe skills shortage that needs filling.
HOPEHIV has funded work in Zimbabwe since 2000 helping to develop the UNAIDS endorsed Masiye Adventure Camp model which takes in hundreds of orphans and gives them a taste of something many have never experienced before. Counsellors are on hand to support young people coming to terms with the deaths of their parents. Over the last five years, HOPEHIV has supported the roll-out of these techniques in Kids' Clubs and Adventure Camps to seven other African countries. We are also trying to counter the barriers that stop many orphans even beginning their education by equipping churches in Harare to set up their own community pre-schools with an accredited curriculum and trained teachers.
