With support from Rotarians for Fighting AIDS (RFFA) through the Orphan Rescue Fund, 127 Nigerian children have been provided educational support for a term.

All recipients of the fund are Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Most of children supported by the orphan rescue pay an average of $39 for school fees. The government has an educational support system called Universal Basic Education (UBE) that is not working.

The program only exempts the children from paying tuition fees, the children still have to purchase textbooks, exercise books, uniforms, pay school levies e.g. computer levy, payments for private tutor by teachers, and Parents Teachers Association (PTA) levy.

The stories of Esther and Victor offer true examples of how the orphan rescue fund has been able to restore hope for these children.

ESTHER
Esther is one of children supported under the RFFA orphan rescue fund. All recipients of the fund are Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

Esther Adeoye is the second daughter of late Mr. and Mrs. Adeoye who both passed on in the same year 2004. The education of Esther was severely threatened, as she had to go into trading to make ends meet in the family.

A community health officer at the general hospital referred Esther to access the orphans rescue support. Their primary caregiver is their aged grandmother who does baby-sitting in the same one-room apartment in which they live.

Esther has returned to school after getting support from the rescue fund. The principal of the school personally paid for a federal promotional exam (Junior WAEC) she had to write. Today Esther, who successfully passed the exam, is now moving to the senior class in her school.

She is the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the HOPE Children's Parliament (Kids Club). Last year Esther spoke on a private radio station to implore individuals an organizations to assist in providing support to orphans and vulnerable.

VICTOR
Victor came to our attention after his mother fell critically ill. After the death of his father in September 2003, a severe need for accommodation rose and resulted in both mother and son living in one of the community markets in Lagos.

Victor's education was seriously disturbed, as he had to neglect school often to attend to the needs of his mother.

In order to make ends meet the onus fell on him to sell "Pure water" (treated water in sachets) on the streets of Lagos.

They had no place to sleep but in the market stalls where traders had to sell their wares. The family had to pay a certain amount of money daily to ensure there had a place to lay their heads at night. Victor's mother died on the 14th of June 2005.

Victor came in search of assistance for accommodation, feeding and educational support. He explained that he had other siblings who were scattered across the country and locating them would really be futile. An aunt of his was located and agreed to provide temporary accommodation for him sinceshe was also trying to make ends meet and caring for her children as well.

Victor was registered under the Anchor program and returned to school fully supported from the Orphan Rescue Funds Today he is a much happier child, a member of the HOPE Children’s Parliament (Kids Club) and academically, he is one of the top two students in his school class.

The Rotary action group “Rotarians for Fighting Aids” has a website at http://www.rffa.org