Two brothers in front of their old house, Photo: Geoffrey Moses
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Almost half a million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. More than twelve percent of the population between the ages of 15 and 49 is estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS, as are more than 90,000 children under age 15.
In keeping his three brothers and his sister together, Georgio has made sure that they all get enough to eat and that they all attend school. That is a testament not only to his love for them and willingness to take on the difficult burden of responsibility, but also to his practical skills. Every month since his parents' deaths, Georgio has managed to scrape together between M 700 and M 1000 (about USD $40) through his carpentry skills making kitchen and bathroom cupboards. These small earnings were enough for food, clothes and school fees, but nothing else.
The boys were 'lucky' in the sense that their parents had left them a dilapidated house in which to live, so at least they did not have to pay rent, but the house was in a very poor state and without proper sanitation facilities. Supported by the SOS Social Centre Maputo, the entire family teamed up to assist in the renovation work of their home.
A new home is built, Photo: Geoffrey Moses
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"These pupils often lack love ..."
Georgio puts a lot of pressure on his siblings to make sure they go to school. He explains: "I don't want them to continue living in the same misery that started after the death of our parents, and I believe that education is of great importance for our future success." During renovation work on the house, for example, Georgio insisted that none of the brothers miss a day in school. At the same time, he asked that at least one of them be available to see how things were going with their new house and to assist where possible. The brothers pulled together in their typical fashion and, as Georgio had predicted, not one of the boys missed a day of school and one of the brothers was always available to help in building their new home. Now all of them are very proud of their newly renovated house – especially the bathroom!
Besides supporting the children in the renovation of their home, the SOS Social Centre Maputo will also help them with scholarships. The boys have been invited to attend workshops to make sure they are aware of their legal rights as orphans, children's rights in general and the risks and causes of HIV/AIDS. In order to supplement the family income, the SOS Social Centre has supported and advised Georgio and the boys in setting up their own small tuck shop. "We hope that we will be able to carry on and maintain our business until we all successfully finish school and start leading an independent life," says Georgio.
From struggling on alone, the five siblings can now start to look forward to improvements in their lives as a result of their strong teamwork and determination – and the partnership with SOS Social Centre Maputo. Georgio still maintains his position as team leader, but with added emotional and practical support from the SOS Social Centre’s field worker, he no longer bears the burden of his responsibility quite so heavily.
*Name changed due to privacy reasons.