In the past hour...

 

In the past hour… 1,625 children were forced to live on the streets by the death or abuse of an adult 1,667 children under the age of five died from malnutrition and vaccine-preventable diseases 115 children became prostitutes 66 children under 15 were infected with HIV 257 children were orphaned because of HIV/AIDS

Most children are under the age of fifteen and are… Sleeping on concrete beds and rancid garbage piles every night – streets, sewers, dumps Scavenging amongst human waste and excreta for rotting morsels and scraps to eat Huffing glue and other substances in order to numb the cold, hunger, pain…and shame Prostituting themselves for basic food and shelter Trafficked and sold into sexual bondage, even at five years old and younger (see Sexual Exploitation) Abused and brutalized by sexual predators, local gangs, corrupt police officers, and slum lords Victimized by HIV/AIDS-infected men who believe that sleeping with young virgins can cure the disease Recruited into lives of thievery, smuggling and drug dealing Abducted to serve as child soldiers or the sex slaves of soldiers Exploited as child laborers or slaves in sweatshops Executed by local businessmen and officials who view them as a dirty pests interfering with trade and commerce Sacrificed in occult/witchcraft rituals Robbed of childhoods; Robbed of self esteem; Robbed of innocence; Robbed of hope

(excerpted from WorldOrphans.org)

What Lifesong for Orphans is doing to CHANGE this

 

How WE can CHANGE the NEXT HOUR