Today, 1st December, is World Aids Day. Habitat for Humanity recognizes that the harsh realities of day-to-day existence for people living with HIV/AIDS is intensified for those without a decent place to live.
This year, Habitat NI’s ‘Hope Starts at Home’ campaign focuses on orphans and vulnerable children. 500,000 orphans have been left behind because of the devastating affect HIV/Aids is having on the communities of Mozambique. Cambodia is in the grip of a HIV/Aids epidemic with approximately 65,000 adults and 6,000 children living with the condition.
Families affected by HIV/Aids are increasingly vulnerable to poverty as family income is spent on health needs and funerals. Every day in countries around the world Habitat is helping these families build their way out poverty, meeting their multi-dimensional needs for shelter, healthcare, education and food security.
Vicheka and her grandmother are just one of many families...
14 year old Vicheka lives with her grandmother En Pohm in a small wooden shack in Cambodia. En Pohm has lived in the house since 1979 but it is built on stilts and is slowing sinking into the mud from the nearby pond.
During the rainy season the tin roof leaks and flooding from the nearby pond encourages mosquitoes carrying dengue and malaria. With no proper sanitation facilities En Phom and Vicheka are forced to use the outdoor space as a toilet.
With no father figure to support her Vicheka’s mother left her in her grandmother’s care shortly after she was born. Each day after school, Vicheka and Pohm pick vegetables in the field in order to have enough money to survive.
After becoming very ill three years ago Vicheka was diagnosed as HIV positive leading to ill-treatment and stigmatic abuse from extended family members.
Habitat is helping to support Pohm and her young granddaughter through house repairs, land tenure security and the installation of a sanitary pit latrine.
Vicheka is looking forward to a brighter, hope filled future but millions more orphans and vulnerable children still don’t have that opportunity. By supporting the Hope Starts at Home campaign you can help give other children a secure future. Buy a gift of hope this Christmas