Category Archives: IOP

Compared to Northern Tanzania, where the large parks such as the Serengeti and Ngorongoro are located, the Southern Highlands are extremely impoverished. The average annual income is less than US$200. Additionally, the area has the second highest rate of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, exceeding ten percent of the population by some estimates. Consequently, many of the children are orphans and are forced to support themselves. They do not get adequate health care and are malnourished. Public education is available but many children do not go to school because their parents can not afford school fees, books and uniforms.

In the photo essay, African Eyes, you can see the dire conditions many of the children find themselves in. The children appear to be at much greater risk than many of the adults. Because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic many parents have died leaving more children than resources to care for them.The Ilula Orphan Program (IOP) is doing a tremendous amount of good in the area and is worthy and in need of your financial help.