The Gift of a Caregiver who "Loves the Stuffing" out of a Child

Lilian, the director of our child sponsorship program, has worked with children with HIV for years.  She recognizes that as much as the children need Ocean Treasure, good nutrition, and the antiretrovirals, access is only as good as their caregiver’s attention. Due to the negative stigma of having HIV or AIDS in Kenya, many caregivers are not educated on what their loved one needs, or they do not have the resources to make sure they are getting what they need. Lilian explained the difference an attentive caregiver can make through Peris and Joyce’s stories.

Both girls had been sponsored by Aid the Children for 4 years.  After taking Ocean Treasure during that time, Peris went from dropping out of school and hopeless to being back in school with thriving health (now, you can’t even tell she has HIV by looking at her!).  She is now even eager to help other children living with HIV who desperately need the encouragement to live that she once needed!  Joyce, unfortunately though, shows less progress because even though she has been receiving Ocean Treasure and nutritional support through the program just like Peris, her caregiver has not ensured that she is regularly receiving what Aid the Children supplied for her.  Her family's situation has made it difficult for them to care for both themselves and their children well.

It is this sad reality that has motivated Lilian to open a live-in care center. In this program, children can come, live and receive oversight from attentive adults. This is necessary so that they can take advantage of these vital resources until around age 16, when they are able to take ownership of their care and future themselves. So…

Aid the Children pledged funds towards this effort!