Vision to Reality

HIV/AIDS is killing millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa and has already left 14 million orphans — including 1.1 million in Tanzania. By 2010, the number of orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to grow to 20 million. Some are taken in by relatives. Many are not. Born poor, these children lack the basic necessities of everyday life.

With vision, leadership and well-targeted resources, their lives can change.

The vision behind our story begins with Godfrey Mahenge, a medical student who planned to return to his village, Idweli, to care for its nearly 250 AIDS orphans. Tragically, Godfrey died in an accident before he could realize his dream. His friends and relatives took up the cause, however, and eventually teamed with the Lundy Foundation and Africa Bridge, a nonprofit in Portland, Oregon.

The approach taken was unique —

Working together, we began by asking the children to describe the greatest problems facing them in their daily lives. Drawing pictures to depict their thoughts, the children identified the loss of parents and other family members to HIV/AIDS. They envisioned a center where orphaned children could be sheltered and fed. Godfrey's Children Center was born from the children's dreams in 2005.

Currently, the Lundy Foundation is working to extend the lessons of Idweli far beyond its borders. In partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, we convened a team of evaluation experts who designed and implemented a rigorous research program to measure the impact of the Children’s Center on the village’s orphaned and vulnerable children. We have piloted a research methodology that can be used by other private and governmental entities working to improve the well-being of children worldwide. In addition, we are advocating in Washington, D.C., for legislation that will require recipients of U.S. foreign aid to evaluate the impacts of the programs funded. Only this way will we know if America’s generosity is achieving the desired goals.

© Lundy Foundation 2010