AFRICA: Plan works in 20 countries in Africa - a continent ravaged by drought, civil war and HIV/AIDS. Most countries have limited development and the majority live in severe poverty. Despite the difficulties, Plan is giving hope to thousands of children.

Here is an example of how Plan works with and for children, their families and communities in Africa.

"I wake up very early in the morning and then wake my sister up. We set off to our pineapple garden and work there until 7:30am. We return home, wash up, and then go to school.

"On most days, we do not take tea in the morning since we do not have sugar. Although porridge is served to children in our school for lunch, we do not eat any since we can not afford to pay for it. Our only daily meal is dinner, which we cook when we come home. During weekends, we work more in our garden, wash our uniforms, and get ready for the next week."

Topher, 13, Uganda.

After the death of both parents from AIDS, Topher and his sister were orphaned. Topher then became the head of his household. Before being assisted by Plan, survival for these two children was a daily struggle.

In Uganda, Plan provides HIV/AIDS infected parents with practical and emotional support to prepare the best possible future for their children. When parents die, there are not always relatives to care for their children and in this situation, the older chid who can be as young as 10 years, becomes the head of the house.

When parents die, they often do not have a will. Plan has developed a project in Uganda where parents are informed about leaving a will so that their children will retain ownership of their property. In Africa, children have few rights, when it comes to property, but their parent.s land is essential to their wellbeing. The lack of these rights, is what forces children away from their communities and into urban areas. Plan is presently researching how this project can be replicated in other developing countries, particularly southern Africa.

"In our culture it is common practice for the extended family to take care of the children who have lost their parents," explains Dorothy, a program officer with the National Community of Women Living With HIV/AIDS (NACWOLA), one of Plan's partners in Uganda. "Siblings are often separated because no single family can take on the whole lot of orphans. We, however, try to encourage the family unit to stay together, but resources are scarce."

Plan supports orphans living in child-headed households in Uganda with basic necessities such as food, beds, medical treatment, clothing, counselling and funding to cover school expenses. To ensure these children have a safe place to live and an income, Plan also helps with materials to repair or construct a house and the resources and training to develop vegetable gardens for food and profit. Older children can also attend vocational training courses to gain such skills as carpentry and sewing - skills that will enable them to earn a living.

Plan also supports teenagers affected by AIDS by setting up outreach centers. As well as being able to get support, young people affected by HIV/AIDS can go to the facilities for HIV/AIDS information, counselling, and treatment.

One of the most tragic and alarming impacts of the epidemic is its effect on children and youth. There is an estimated 1 million orphans in Uganda and this figure may double within the next few years. While new infection rates have declined, there are still thousands of adults who carry the virus. Without access to antiretroviral treatment - the medication that can delay the onset of AIDS - these parents will die, usually within three to fifteen years after contracting the virus.

However, Uganda is viewed as a success story in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In the past decade, HIV infection rates among the adult population have rapidly declined - from an average of 30 per cent ten years ago to about 6 per cent today.

Unfortunately, the same decline has not occurred in other sub-Saharan African countries - where infection rates continue to rise. In a bid to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS, Plan, in partnership with the Burnett Institute, commenced a five-year program: Reducing Community Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya and Uganda in September 2004.

Plan's HIV/AIDS support, education and prevention programs in Uganda are funded by grants, donations and partly from child sponsorships.