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Program in focus

Memory books: giving HIV/AIDS orphaned children a sense of family and belonging

The HIV/AIDS crisis in the African region is having an enormous impact on children, their families and communities. The loss of life has resulted in many children being orphaned, while others must take on roles as carers when their parents' health deteriorates. Other children and youth face the very real risk of contracting the disease themselves.

The spread of the illness has also led to an increased level of vulnerability among children. As parents become increasingly ill, they may be unable to work resulting in increased poverty and potential homelessness for families. Other negative impacts include discrimination against children where the disease is present in their family, and an increased number of school drop-outs, as children leave education to find work to support their families.

With funding support from the government's Australian Partnerships with African Communities (APAC) program, ChildFund in Africa, in partnership with ChildFund Australia, is working with HIV-affected and other vulnerable children in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. The program works with local communities to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, provides education on prevention and care, and works with local and district community structures to ensure psychosocial support is available for orphans and vulnerable children impacted by the disease.

One of the more unique parts of the program, and an area which is often overlooked, is a memory books initiative. So many children are orphaned - many at an age where they are too young to remember facts about their family. The memory books ensure that these children are given some sense of their family history, as well as personal mementos from their parents."

The memory books involve putting together a book containing the family history, any photographs, personal stories and any other family-specific information which they can then pass on to their children. So that individuals with HIV/AIDS are not discriminated against within their community, all parents and people looking after children (referred to as caregivers) in ChildFund's program areas are encouraged to participate in the memory books and succession planning initiatives.

For those people who are unable to write, memory boxes, in which personal items can be stored, offer an alternative to the books. Using locally produced woven baskets, or clay pots, individuals can place family mementos, photographs and other belongings within the memory box, thus providing a keepsake for the children.

It has also enabled people to trace their family members. For example, Phoebe in Zambia was able to trace her relative in the process of developing a memory book. "I lived with Mwalilanda for 12 years without knowing she was my relative. As I was being taught how to develop a family tree, we realised we were actually from the same extended family. From that time, we have been very close to each other, and I am very happy," said Phoebe.