Watoto Wa Africa Orphanage

Watoto Wa Africa ( meaning: "Children of Africa" ) was formed in the year 2000 by Josephat and Rosemary Kirutu after they saw the drastic effects the HIV/AIDS virus was having on Africa and its children. Josephat once worked as a tour guide in Arusha for 6 years. During this time he watched as many of his friends became ill and passed away as a result of the HIV/AIDS virus. Many of these friends were survived by children who were left with no where to go, and no one to care for them. Statistics say there are currently more than 2 million Tanzanians infected with the HIV/AIDS virus, however the actual numbers are thought to be far greater. The number of children orphaned by AIDS increases daily. Stressful social conditions and a lack of children?s rights have also led to many children fleeing their homes or being abandoned by their parents. Many of these children are forced to live on the streets, where they beg for food to survive. These children are not only at risk of starvation or malnutrition, but also risk physical and sexual abuse and contracting life-threatening diseases. Watoto Wa Africa hopes to provide some of these children with a chance of a future. At Watoto Wa Africa, children are provided with basic human rights such as food, water, shelter, clothing, education - and most importantly, love. Watoto Wa Africa became an official NGO as of July 2006.