Crosslinks In Depth January 2008

CHILDREN WITH AIDS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA 

To help us understand the challenge of working with children with AIDS in SE Asia, this issue combines facts and reports from different areas with current prayer needs. 

According to current estimates, some 15 million children have already been orphaned by AIDS and more than 10 million young people aged 15 - 24 now have HIV. HIV and AIDS are having a devastating impact upon the world's children, depriving them of parental care and protection. Children are being forced to replace parents as head of the household, and care for younger siblings. Children are missing out on education, as they are forced to work to support themselves or siblings. Millions of young people also face the risk of contracting HIV themselves. (UNICEF)  Pray for government and large organisations who are working to put structures in place which can best support the millions of young people affected by HIV/AIDS.

ORPHANS One region was severely affected by HIV/AIDS through bad practice in blood-buying from poor rural farmers in the mid-1990s. Now many adults are sick and dying, resulting in a large number of children affected by HIV/AIDS and leaving many orphans. The epidemic in an adjacent part of central China has received a great deal of attention. Many children affected and orphaned by AIDS have been placed in institutional care even though their grandparents and other relatives are alive and apparently prepared to care for them. (Annie Ren) 

Pray that the best form of care will be provided in both urban and rural areas for the children and their families. 

ISOLATION China: Children who are affected by HIV/AIDS are stigmatized, socially isolated, and suffer discrimination. Losing one or both parents due to AIDS puts enormous emotional stress on a child. Not addressing the psycho- social needs of these children could lead to a second generation of problems including depression, alcohol and drug abuse, violent behavior, suicide and HIV infection. (Annie Ren) 

Pray that each individual child will find love and care and have the opportunity to meet the Lord Jesus. 

CHILDREN’S HOMES Thailand: AGAPE, a Christian home, is run under the direction of the Full Gospel Fellowship and the Thai Department of Public Welfare. The home cares for orphaned and abandoned babies and children with HIV/AIDS. The home has a total of 34 babies and children, 25 Thai employees and several Western staff volunteers. AGAPE is a registered charity and raises all its funds in the West. A new purpose built centre has recently been completed, and this has the capacity to care for more children than ever. It also has a mother and baby wing to help families stay together for as long as possible. We have never met children who smile so much; even in adversity they are such happy folk. (JTB) 

Pray for opportunities to train those running care institutions, to give them a greater understanding of HIV/AIDS and enable them to have a positive effect on the lives of needy children. 

TRAINING The team went to visit 43 children at an orphanage about three hours away from our city which is run by local believers. In some ways it was sad to see them there but in other ways it was quite amazing and special. The local staff are very dedicated and the children looked clean and well-cared for. The new director of the orphanage sees a real need for staff training - he himself wasn't sure how you could catch or prevent AIDS. (JR) 

Pray for the development of local training programmes to help houseparents, teachers and staff. Pray for Christians to become involved in this important ministry. 

CARE IN THE COMMUNITY One organisation, AOS, is effective in its handling and care for the children because they do not remove children from their communities; they provide foster families and give monthly aid such as food and money to orphaned children with extended families; consequently the financial pressure put on the poor extended family to take care of the child is significantly reduced.. Research on early child development highlights the importance of parenting and of regular caregiving relationships; without these kind of relationships children are at higher risk of emotional and mental health risks (Annie Ren). 

Pray for teams of local volunteers, for their training, support and encouragement as they work with these special children. 

CHILDREN WITH CHILDREN The growth of children into responsible adults is dependent on their primary education. The Saturday gatherings at AOS are an indirect way of addressing the psycho and social needs of children while providing them with extra scholastic support. I have seen new children who come to the center and initially sit in the corner by themselves afraid to socialize. At the center they flourish within weeks; though some take longer periods of time, they are able to interact and play with other children, something that rarely happens in other settings for children from AIDSaffected families. (Annie Ren) 

Pray for registration and other necessary legal aspects of projects that work within the local communities to provide a safe, caring and supportive environment where children can meet with their loving heavenly Father. 

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT There is little understanding of the illness and the children face many problems including financial hardship, emotional trauma and stigma. The churches have little idea of the situation and the project aims to provide training and resources to help them set up ways to care for these children. (JR) 

Pray for projects to be centred on Jesus and to reach the real needs. 

GOD’S LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN Thailand: In the six years the home has been running more than 50 children have died. Dan is very poorly and getting weaker by the day. He is too weak to walk and has constant diarrhoea. The staff carry him to where he can see the other children playing and at times, when he is feeling a little brighter, he will also play "hide and seek" with us or he will "chase" John up the stairs in my arms. However, Ya, a one year old little girl, has been re-tested and proved to be HIV negative. This means that she can be put forward for adoption and, hopefully, find a loving family to care for her. Having experienced the traumas of abandonment and rejection these children desperately need God's love and healing for their many emotional and spiritual wounds. (JTB) 

Pray that children affected by AIDS can be helped to develop into emotionally healthy children who know the love of their heavenly Father