Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - October 13, 2006
Jean-Luc Martinage in Chisoko, Malawi
Soon, as we stand before her home, a few metres from the Centre, the sadness wells up in Caroline's eyes, especially when she starts to tell us her story.
Caroline is one of the thousands of children in southern Africa who are known as 'orphans due to AIDS'. "I am the youngest of a family of four children", she explains. "I lost my mother at the age of 7. Last month, my daddy died".
Caroline's older brothers and sisters are either studying at a boarding school far from the village or have married. So Caroline lives alone at home and has to look after herself.
Fortunately, the destitute teenager has found help at Chisoko Community Child Care Centre, which is run by the Malawi Red Cross with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The centre has places for 750 children. Those aged one to six years attend kindergarden, where they learn the alphabet but also engage in manual, sports and play activities. They also receive hygiene and prevention tips as well as counselling. The oldest, like Caroline, aged from seven to 18 years, also have access to basic support even though primary schooling is free in Malawi.
"Many of the children who attend the centre are living with HIV", confides Taonga Nyekanyeka, the head of the HIV and AIDS project in Mwanza region. "But there can be no question for us of isolating them from the other children. The community has to stay united in order to avoid rejection and discrimination", he explains.
Fifty-five volunteers from the Malawi Red Cross take turns looking after the young people, while 28 others visit people living with AIDS within the framework of the home-based care programme.
"It is important that the children feel physically and mentally better thanks to our work", says Peter Chammudzi, one of the volunteers looking after the youngest children.
"Many of the children who attend the centre are orphans, so we make sure that they have a well-balanced diet by giving them a bowl of porridge every morning", he continues.
Owing to its limited means, the Malawi Red Cross cannot provide for these children's future on its own. "I am going to finish primary school soon but I have no money to pay for secondary school", worries Caroline.
The Malawi Red Cross is gradually setting up a programme for the payment of school fees for children orphaned by AIDS. Unfortunately, Mwanza region is not yet covered, but the funding should come in time to help Caroline.
When we ask the girl what she would like to do later on, she answers that she would like to become a nun. It is clear that above and beyond her faith, Caroline is also looking for protection against a world she must face alone.
"Caroline is a courageous young lady and her day-to-day struggle against adversity shows why the work of the Malawi Red Cross is so crucial to the future of this country", explains Dr Mukesh Kapila, the Federation's Special Representative for HIV/AIDS, who also met Caroline during his visit to the Chisoko centre.
"It also shows why we must accelerate and expand our efforts to reduce HIV spread and manage its destructive impact on families and communities in southern Africa", he concludes.
Caroline leaves us to go over to her music and dance group created by the centre, the Chisungalalo Band, which means "The orchestra of happiness" in Chechewa, the local language. Today, this group has become her real family and one of her few sources of joy.
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