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Students wearing t-shirts donated by West Lafayette High School and SOHO for the official opening of the new dormitory facilties for orphaned children.
Photo courtesy of West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School
Swaziland
EWB-Purdue is currently collaborating with West Lafayette High School and Seeds of Hope Outreach to help a community in Swaziland.
Status: Collaborating with SHO, SOHO, and War on Hunger
Program Description
Swaziland has the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in the world, although the population is only one million. The AIDS epidemic has left in its wake a growing tide of orphans and vulnerable children who are forced into the role of caregiver for themselves and younger siblings. This means that many children are unable to attend school because they must stay home to tend to their younger siblings.
However, there is also a large population of the elderly from the generation before the massive outbreak of AIDS in Swaziland. If communities with these wide age gaps had a community center where the elderly could meet during the day and watch over the younger children, then the young adults may be able to attend school and have a chance at improving their current situation through a proper education.
How We Can Help
EWB-Purdue is currently collaborating with West Lafayette High School's Student Humanitarian Organization (SHO) as well as Seeds of Hope Outreach (SOHO) to find a way to help the situation in a community in Swaziland. The community has asked for a community center where the elderly and younger children could meet during the day so as to let the children who are old enough to attend school. This would greatly help the community by easing the burden forced upon the younger caregivers in the community.