Traditionally in Ethiopian culture, the kinship within extended families was strong and orphans were cared for within the family. However, the increasing number of orphans and the deteriorating living standard of the Ethiopian people have created a condition where extended families are unable to provide even the minimal basic care for orphans.
In addition, there is a great deal of misinformation and superstition surrounding HIV that makes persons who would otherwise accept responsibility for a child to, instead, shun that child if he or she is HIV+.
This program run by AHOPE Ethiopia provides food, housing and education within a child development center.
