The Need
HIV/AIDS is one of the biggest social, economic and
health challenges in the world. It is a global emergency
claiming over 8,000 lives every day. Nowhere on the planet is more affected
by this incurable disease than sub-Saharan Africa. This
area is home to approximately 95% of all AIDS orphans in the world - or
13.2 million children.
HOPEHIV works with African children who have lost their parents to the AIDS pandemic.
These are extremely vulnerable children living in communities that are being torn apart
by this disease. These are young people with talent, passion and creativity, but they
need our support to help them get their lives back together.
The Solution
The SEP believes in the power of young people to make
a difference. That is why the SEP is structured to empower UK
pupils to create and drive businesses that will raise money for
African projects. This money will then allow African children
to develop the skills required to meet the many challenges they currently
face and then lead their communities to a brighter future.
The SEP therefore effectively creates a trans-world chain of talented
young people, all working towards the same goals and all motivated to
bring to social problems the same enterprise and imagination that business
entrepreneurs bring to wealth creation. Whether African or British, they
are all social entrepreneurs.
The Donations
Once the hard work has been done, your pupils - like all donors to any
cause - will want to know the answer to the all-important question - where
will the money go?
To give you a flavour, let's visit a beneficiary of the SEP - Richard
- and see not only how SEP pupils' profits have changed his life, but
also how the social entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive throughout
the African communities supported by SEP - making your donations go that
much further.
The Story of Richard
Orphaned at seven, Richard went to live with his ageing grandmother in the Kitgum region of
Northern Uganda. Before long he had to give up school to help on the small family farm. He
was stigmatised as an outsider and isolated from his peers.
By fifteen, Richard was on the path to recruitment as a child soldier in the guerrilla
wars of his conflict-ridden homeland. Fortunately, one of HOPEHIV's local programmes offered
him an opportunity to go back to school, where he received special counselling that helped
him to integrate with his peers. From there, he joined their innovative Orphan Affairs Committee,
which empowers and supports young people to develop a strong voice in society and advocate on
behalf of others. Richard graduated in 2005 as a carpenter, and has since been so instrumental
in introducing successful discussion forums around children's rights in his college, that he's
been awarded a three-year scholarship!
The Ripple Effect
As you can see, Richard used his opportunity as a chance to change not
only his life, but also the lives of many others. Consequently, pupils
who take part in the SEP are part of a process that educates
and supports whole communities of orphaned children
in the most efficient and effective way.
We urge you to take up the challenge of the SEP in your school and help us to give thousands
of young people like Richard a 'hand-up' so that they in turn can provide immeasurable benefits
within their own communities. With your help, we can show that, far from being the scourge of
a continent ravaged by HIV and AIDS, the current 'Orphan Generation' are Africa's greatest
hope for the future.
