African children and many of the grassroots organizations working with them are hard pressed by the global recession. AIDS orphans are affected more than most. For many children and their caretakers, this directly translates into less money to buy food and pay school fees. Grandmothers caring for orphans are particularly struggling to survive. Some go for days without food and other daily necessities. Grassroots organizations that depend on Western donors have witnessed a sharp drop in grant allocations this year and the road ahead seems even harder.

 

Many grassroots organizations are not sure if they will remain in service beyond this year. The ARK Foundation has seen a sharp increase in the number of grandmothers seeking assistance and orphans searching for school fees. This crisis is felt disproportionally by young girls who are more likely to drop out of school and resort to unhealthy and risky ways to supplement family income.

 

In September 2009, ARK received a total of 4,700 inquires from orphans looking for money to pay school fees and to buy food. Eight months prior, inquiries would have been about 700 a month. This is a truly staggering number of children who need money to stay in school. Some of our field projects are seeing as many people in one day as they did in two weeks compared to September last year.

ARK is thankful for the generosity of so many of you who have made it possible to provide holistic support to our children and to our grandmothers. BUT, the need is now far greater than ARK's resources. For $375, you can provide school fees for one orphan to attend secondary school. We have hundreds of children who need your help. Please donate NOW, using the button below.