8 Oct 2009 by Cecily's Fund
Tags: My Experience with Orphans
The death of nineteen-year-old Cecily Eastwood inspires her family to carry on her legacy by helping thousands of AIDS orphans and vulnerable children attend school.
Nineteen-year-old Cecily Eastwood was volunteering with orphans in Zambia in 1997 when, tragically, she was killed in a car accident. Her parents set up Cecily's Fund in her memory, and to carry on the work she was doing supporting orphans' education. Since then, the UK-registered charity (non-profit organization) has helped over 11,000 extremely vulnerable children to go to school by providing them with shoes, uniforms, books, pens and help with fees. This means they can stay in their communities where, often, they are being cared for by elderly grandparents or older siblings. When they finish school they are offered the opportunity to train as peer health educators or teachers. As peer health educators they learn to run workshops for younger children on how to stay safe from HIV. Children find it easier to ask questions and discuss fears with people close to their own age. Qualified teachers are able to find secure government jobs and help replenish the pool of teachers, which has been hit hard by HIV. Both are wonderful role models for other orphans.
Cecily's Fund works with local partner organizations who understand the battle for survival against poverty and AIDS. They help us to identify the poorest children and then deliver what they need through government schools. Together, we make a promise to support each child right through to the end of his or her school career. In the words of Getrude, who was supported by Cecily's Fund through school and peer health education - “I am so grateful to Cecily’s Fund. Other (charities) come and go but Cecily’s Fund supports children throughout their schooling. It is unique.” Getrude is now training to be a social worker at college in Lusaka.
We very much look forward to helping to raise awareness about the plight of children orphaned by AIDS by putting on events to commemorate World AIDS Orphan Day. For more information, please visit Cecily's Fund:www.cecilysfund.org and American Friends of Cecily's Fund: www.cecilysfund.com
