Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - May 9, 2005
The Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools target about 1 000 children in Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia, many of whom cannot farm because their parents were too ill to pass on skills before dying of Aids-related illnesses.
Children orphaned by the disease and living in rural areas are particularly at risk from malnutrition, disease, abuse and sexual exploitation.
'The threat of sexual exploitation is particularly high for those left alone to cope with poverty and forced to earn money to support their families,' said a statement from the FAO, an agency of the United Nations.
'After the death of their parents, the children often become heads of household and have to search for ways to make an income, a difficult task in rural areas with few job opportunities, services and little infrastructure.'
The schools aim to share agricultural knowledge, business skills, and life skills with the children, aged between 12 and 18.
They cover traditional and modern agriculture and children learn about field preparation, sowing and transplanting, weeding, irrigation, pest control, use and conservation of resources, processing of food crops, harvesting, storage and marketing skills.
It is hoped that the schools will also help to recover or sustain traditional knowledge about indigenous crops, medicinal plants, and biodiversity.Lessons include issues like HIV/Aids awareness and prevention, gender sensitivity, child protection and sexual health. The children also receive psychological and social support, nutrition education, and business skills.
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