Lacking a safety net, it is too easy for girl orphans end up on the streets, where they suffer from poor health, trauma and psychological distress. This high stress lifestyle makes them vulnerable to abuse and sexual exploitation.

Children's Heaven tries to keep girls in extended family situations, providing food, clothing and school materials so extended family has the means to support the girls. However, Children's Heaven immediately shelters girls whose living situations become unsafe or hostile.

It is critical to rescue these teenaged girls before they experience street life.

Food

Throughout the world:

In Ethiopia, one of the world's poorest countries, people struggle for the most basic of needs. When a child’s mother or father dies, they often must sell all their possessions to buy food. Then, if food aid is not available, they begin to starve.

The need for food sends many orphans to the streets. There, they suffer maltreatment, sexual exploitation, physical and emotional abuse. Children’s Heaven's food supplement program makes sure orphan girls are fed every day.

As funds increase, we wish to expand our food distribution program, guaranteeing many more orphans at least one nutritious meal each day.

Children’s Heaven food supplement program is designed to make sure that orphans are fed

11 million AIDS orphans already without a mother or father to cultivate crops in parts of Africa would be joined by another nine million in seven years.

The World Food Program's executive director James Morris

Education

When teen children lose both parents to AIDS, they must take over the care and feeding of younger siblings. Often, this means leaving school and doing labour work such as carrying heavy burdens in exchange for pennies.

Most teen girls must give up their education when a father dies and the mother is left sick with AIDS. The girls must find and prepare food, nurse their sick mothers, and tend to younger brothers and sisters.

At Children’s Heaven, girl orphans are encouraged to continue their education and fulfil their dreams. By giving these girls clothing, school supplies and food, we can help them finish high school. Through mentoring, we help determine if the girls should go on to college, or to additional vocational training. Then, we support them through out their studies. Upon completion of their schooling, these girls have the tools they need to lead self-sufficient, successful lives.

Ethiopia has 2.7 million children out of school. Given Ethiopia's inadequate rainfall and food shortages, with more than half the population under age 18, high-quality basic education is critical to increase agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods. In addition, basic education is essential for the delivery of key Government of Ethiopia social services, including health care. – US Aid Sept 2007.

Health

When parents die, the children they leave behind must survive without a guardian to protect and care for them. They quickly become susceptible to malnutrition and illness. Children’s Heaven provides yearly physicals, health education and basic health services for its orphan girls.

Adolescence

Adolescence is often filled with loneliness, social distress and fears. But, for children who have watched parents die of AIDS, the problems are compounded by stigma, loss of inheritance, exploitation and the complicated symptoms of post traumatic stress. Overwhelming emotions, disillusionment and even despair may lead to dangerous behaviours.

Children’s Heaven's youth centre is set up to encourage our girls, and give them access to extracurricular activities such as music and drama, sports, games, counselling, academic tutoring and critical HIV/AIDS education. The centre also houses a mini library for educational support.

As funding becomes available, we wish to reach out to our community's youth, to provide a safe place where adolescents gather---away from harmful influences.