Care and Support 50 HIV+ Orphan Children in India

"I really don't know what to do, I feel cry like crying, I don't know, how I am going to study and also look after my parents” - expressed Keerthana during the visit at the hospital on the second day after her parents met with an accident.

Keerthana is the eldest child, 14 years old and living with HIV. Her younger sister (aged 9 years) and her parents are also living with HIV. Her father, a lorry driver does not support the family with his income as he spends most of the earnings on drinking. Keerthana 's mother was the sole earner, who worked as a coolie worker and supported the family. As the income her mother brings does not cater to the health and educational needs of Keerthana and her sister, the family was closely followed up by Buds of Christ to provide the psycho-social and the economic support for the family.

Few weeks before Keerthana's parents met with a very severe accident that caused multiple fractures resulting in bed ridden state for both her mother and father. In addition Keerthana is currently studying in 10th standard and is awaiting for her public examination, an important year that decides her future studies.

Buds of Christ provided additional support during the last few weeks through home visits to support Keerthana in handling the stress of caring her parents, younger sister and also her own health. Close health monitoring and nutritional support was provided to the entire family. Keerthana was encouraged to continue schooling and also care of herself too. Her mother is much better now and able to support Keerthana in household works.

She has now successfully completed her quarterly exams and is also more confident in handling the care of her mother, father and her younger sister. In spite of all the struggled conditions, she is confident in saying;

“I would definitely pass with good grades in the final exams, because I have the confidence to do it and my friends in the support group are encouraging me too”.

It has been an exciting moment for 16 widow mothers on 24th and 25th of May 2016 at Yercaud. For most of the women it has been their first visit outside the district and a time to explore their themselves and to empower themselves to care for their HIV positive children. What started as an introduction led to many women ventilating their fears and concerns of their own and their children's future.

The encouragement was by the positive sharing of Ms. Geetha who herself is a widow living with HIV. Her sharing enabled the women to have a positive thought about the future. Though the trip was a casual plan that emerged from few of the members, it has further encouraged them to sustain the relationship by meeting at least once in two months as a strong support group for mothers.

New ideas have also emerged from the mothers to start a small saving scheme and also a part time business to facilitate an additional income to support the family needs. The women have also planned a yearly retreat of similar kind by generating savings for it through monthly basis.

As the organisation in charge, I was happy on the outcome of the programme and also support the event to encourage well being of the mothers as their well being matters their health and children's health too. I also take the opportunity to thank the well wishers and Global Giving who partnered the initiative - Jeyapaul, Director of Buds of Christ

As a staff and a widow mother living with HIV, I was happy to be part of it ,especially in helping me to encourage them and come together as one family - Geetha Centre Coordinator, Buds of Christ