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GOD'S GOLDEN ACRE EARLY EDUCATION PRESENTATION
AFRICAN CHILDREN ORPHANED BY HIV/AIDS
As most people know by now, the AIDS pandemic is having a devastating effect on children in Africa. More than 12 million of Africa’s children have lost at least one parent to HIV/AIDS. With 8,500 people
contracting HIV on a daily basis in Africa (1,400 of whom are newborn babies) and with very few receiving ANY treatment, this is a crisis that cannot be ignored (statistics from DATA). Although AIDS, in theory, is an easily preventable disease, because of a lack of
knowledge, frequent rape, and young girls going into prostitution in order to feed themselves and siblings, this is not an easy problem to fix.
GOD'S GOLDEN ACRE
These AIDS orphans do not have the many social services that American orphans can rely on. Most orphaned children in Africa are left to fend for themselves (and sometimes younger siblings as well). With not
much notice from the government, the fate of these children is left up to philanthropic groups. God’s Golden Acre is one of these organizations that is bearing the responsibility of giving these children hope. Founded by Heather Reynolds, GGA supports
about 100 children who live in foster homes on the property, along with thousands of children in the outlying communities. Their website lists the many projects with which GGA staff and volunteers are constantly involved. For a more detailed history of GGA,
you can read Heather
Reynolds' biography (ordering information can also be found on the GGA website).
VOLUNTEERING AT GOD'S GOLDEN ACRE
Starting in March 2006, I will be volunteering at God’s Golden Acre. I will most likely be working with the preschoolers, since that is where my experience is. Although I’m sure that I will be doing a
little of everything, I hope that I can focus some on the children’s social/emotional development. Because GGA
provides the children with a safe and homey environment, where they don’t have to wonder where their next meal will come from, it is a great opportunity to focus on how
the children express their feelings, how they handle peer conflict, and how they feel about themselves. I hope that I can help in this respect.
USE OF THIS WEBSITE
I plan on using this part of my website for my “journal” while I am away. I hope to make postings to it every few days along with possibly a photo diary as well (assuming the availability of internet
access). This will probably be my predominant way of updating family and friends on what I am doing, but my hope is that others will stumble across this site and gain knowledge of the daily struggles AIDS orphans face, knowledge that I, as well, do not possess as of now.
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