What we do
Creating a cultural exchange of information, resources and learning
Over 5 million people are HIV+ in South Africa alone, with over 230,000 children orphaned by the AIDS death toll. It is estimated that by 2010 this will have blown out to over 2million orphans*.
The current situation in rural South Africa is dire. Shelters and centres for orphans are constantly appearing in villages due to the overwhelming number of children who have lost their parents to AIDS. There is little or no early childhood learning occurring in many of these under-resourced orphanages. Something that is taken for granted here in Australia with our government funded and highly successful preschool programs, and something StarBright believes we should share.
The outcome of AIDS for their communities and society as a whole is disturbing. They have lost a generation of adult income earners and the educated to AIDS, compromising economic and cultural stability. The unfolding social catastrophe needs to be stemmed urgently.
We are committed to help these orphans through our cultural and learning exchange program. We will be sponsoring Australian early childhood practitioners to work alongside the African orphanage staff, to enhance skills and an understanding of each other’s work and social cultures. We will establish relationships between early childhood centres in Australia and South Africa to support and learn from each other, teacher to teacher, child to child, community to community.
We will start one orphanage at a time, one child at a time, and help make a difference to those whose lives we touch.
Become a StarBright member and join our journey of learning, of partnership, of new friendships, of hope and making a difference to the lives of AIDS orphans.
It is up to each one of us as individuals to do what we can and face the problem of children being orphaned by AIDS. Let’s not turn away from them anymore.
Become a StarBright member today and give them hope for a brighter future.