Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries of the world. Already in 2004 it was home to 3.9 Million orphans. While many organizations are providing food, clothes and schooling for these children, vivo’s focus is on the psychosocial needs of these children to ensure their healthy mental development. Back in spring 2006 vivo interviewed more than 100 children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS living in Awassa, in Southern Ethiopia. Beside symptoms of grief, many children living in so-called foster families were suffering from ongoing maltreatment and were exploited by their foster families as servants. Therefore additionally to the implementation of trauma and grief counselling structures for orphans, vivo also engaged in awareness raising activities against child abuse and maltreatment in the community and provided training for local counsellors, grandparents and foster families on ‘positive parenting’.
Lesen Sie weiter: Housing project for HIV/AIDS orphans in Ethiopia