In one of my classes, we examined the theory of reciprocity in societies; the absence of capitalism in societies because the communities function largely through family and kinship relations. People do things for each other in order to help and community members do not assign market value to their labor or services.
In all of this the issue of orphans in Africa emerged. There is a growing number of orphans due to the effect HIV/AIDS related deaths. When their parents die, some children have family members that will take them in and they are able to continue living supported lives. However, with the high rate of HIV infects (surpassing 30% in many African nations), many children have no where to go. The western approach to this dilemna would be orphanages, but you see, many African countries never had to build orphanages because the concept of children without parents or even family was completely foreign. So today we have an unsupported number of children living on the streets and providing for themselves because enough state systems have not been created to provide them with basic needs.
In all of this the issue of orphans in Africa emerged. There is a growing number of orphans due to the effect HIV/AIDS related deaths. When their parents die, some children have family members that will take them in and they are able to continue living supported lives. However, with the high rate of HIV infects (surpassing 30% in many African nations), many children have no where to go. The western approach to this dilemna would be orphanages, but you see, many African countries never had to build orphanages because the concept of children without parents or even family was completely foreign. So today we have an unsupported number of children living on the streets and providing for themselves because enough state systems have not been created to provide them with basic needs.
In an earlier post, I told of my visit to Sanyu Babies Home. These abandoned babies were fortunate enough to be rescued by this organization and able to be brought up in a loving environment. However, after the age of two, they were no longer able to live in this orphanage. When we asked the workers where the children went once they turned 2, they replied by saying that they hoped they could be adopted. But what if they weren't...the children could only hope to be placed in another orphanage.
And so the next question asked is adoption? Why isnt that an option. Well it is, but rarely used. Most families have so many of their own children to care for, that the thought of adopting a child that is not related to them is not even considered. Also, many countries do not encourage international adoption and make it virtually impossible for someone not related to the child to do so.
So once again I ask, "Where do the children go?"
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