Like all third world countries, pregnancy complications are a common cause of death in Malawi. Pregnancies are often poorly spaced, giving the mother's body insufficient time to recover in between. Combined with poverty and poor health, it is not uncommon for women die within 2 years of giving birth. Fathers find it difficult, if not impossible, to care for a newborn.
Traditionally, the child's extended family (older sister, aunt, grandmother, etc) has usually taken the orphaned children in and cared for them.
However, the HIV/AIDs epidemic has changed the makeup of Malawian society. Working age adults care and provide for both children and the elderly in Malawi. However, HIV/AIDS primarily affects working age adults and has reduced the average life expectancy to around 40 years.
Grandparents struggle to feed themselves and have increasing numbers of orphaned grandchildren who need to be taken care of. They simply are unable to feed another mouth.
The State struggles to cope with the number of orphans. And so, there is an increased call for private orphanages.
Home of Hope provides a loving environment where children are educated and raised to their full potential. We cooperate extensively with the Malawian government, to ensure that the children we take in are genuine orphans whose family are unable to care for them.
