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	School Fees Give them a chance! Support an orphan for just £10 a month.   If you are interested in sponsoring an orphan please contact us and we will send you the relevant information. ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP SCHEME In sub-Saharan Africa today, many children have been orphaned. The reasons are many, although poverty, the prevalence of HIV and lack of health care are major contributing factors. According to UNICEF, by the year 2010 there will be over 18 million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa (children who have lost both parents to AIDS). The vast majority of children orphaned in the region are cared for by extended family. The extended families themselves may well be very poor and find it extremely difficult if not impossible adequately to feed, clothe and educate these children. In 2005 SHAREAfrica launched a program to provide financial support for orphaned children living in extended families. Here is how the program works: Children are identified by SHAREZambia (SHAREAfrica’s in-country organisation). Each child is visited and assessed as well as the family responsible for them. The child’s needs are identified, for example, schooling, clothing and other basic essentials, and an estimate of the amount required is then calculated. The child’s details are then logged in a register and forwarded to SHAREAfrica for sponsorship. As sponsors come forward, SHAREAfrica allocate the children and arrange the financial transaction. The amount per child is calculated ranging from at £10 to £15 pounds a month depending on the age of the child and is given by way of a ‘standing order’. SHAREZambia has responsibility for administering the fund and seeing that the amount gets to the child and that it is spent for the purpose intended. Every six months a report on the progress and wellbeing of each child will be sent to the sponsor. This is forwarded to each sponsor. There may be occasions when regular feedback is not possible due to the remoteness of some locations. When the child no longer needs funding then the sponsor is notified and either another child will be nominated or the standing order cancelled. If for any reason a sponsor wishes to cancel a standing order this can be done at any time and no reason need be given. Should that occur, we will do our best to find another sponsor. If we cannot find a sponsor immediately then SHAREAfrica will continue to support the child. We discourage any direct communication between the child and the sponsor since it may create tension within the household where one child seems to be benefiting over others. If the child or sponsor wants to communicate then any correspondence will be sent through SHAREZambia. In all situations we try to protect the interests of the children. SHAREAfrica, being a Christian organisation, is keen to promote Christian values therefore priority is given to orphans being cared for by Christian families who are of sound reputation. During March and April we conducted a detailed assessment of the orphan program and were greatly encouraged by the findings. There were only a few children that we didn’t manage to contact but all of those we interviewed were attending school and seemed to be in good health. Many had achieved good grades in school and both the children and their guardians were extremely grateful for the support provided. In next few weeks we will be sending a note to all sponsors giving an update on the children and explaining the improvements we have made to the administration program.