Community-based orphan care  

 There are an estimated 1.2 million children in Malawi under 18 who have lost one or both

 parents.  At the present time, less than one-third of these children receive any support

 care from the government or charity groups.  The majority of orphaned children in Malawi

 are living with immediate or extended family members.  The sheer magnitude of the

 HIV/AIDS related deaths and resulting numbers of orphans is overwhelming. 

      At Cornerstone we use the community - based approach to orphan care.  In  this type of 

 program, the orphaned children are integrated into the families  of relatives or

 conscientious  guardians.  Aid for the orphans and their families is usually a combination

 of basic supplies for the individual orphan and additional help for the extended family. 

 This approach gives the orphan worth in the home and as a result is treated better than they

 would have been otherwise.  It not only helps the orphan but also their extended family.

    

                                                                                                   Strengths 

 The strengths of this type of program is that it can cover the needs of  a fairly large number

 of orphans and extended family members for a relatively low cost in a culturally

 appropriate way.  Children are also raised as a family and are more likely to receive love and

 affection when kept with siblings and relatives than those who are institutionalized or

 separated.  This security is critical to the development of life skills that are needed to support

 themselves and to enter into marriage and future family relationships.