"Since I was born, I have been in the streets with my mother. I was the one leading my mum to beg in the streets because my mum was blind. I have no good memories from childhood. Even if my mother was given a lot of money one day it meant nothing to me as I would still be back in the streets the following day."

Girl child growing up on the streets in Zambia
For a full version of this interview click here(545 Kb)

The above story is real and all too familiar to the millions of children around the world who live on the streets. In this particular case, the mother was still around. In many cases, children are abandoned or forced out by their extended family if their parents have died.

HIV/AIDS has devastated many African nations and communities and Zambia is no exception. Over 15% of the population are HIV+ and over 600,000 children are orphaned in Zambia alone due to the epidemic. As a result, the once strong extended family system in Zambia has broken down, leaving children vulnerable to exploitation and exposure to a life on the streets.

Eagles Wings is committed to a process of identifying such children and, over time, reunifying them with their existing family and community. We are also committed to developing alternative care methods, such as foster care, that will see children placed into caring homes, rather than into institutions, until they can be reunified with existing family. This is a massive undertaking in a country where residential/institutional care has been the common method established by well meaning non-governmental organisations and individuals.

To view the Ubuntu Video Trailer click here

To view the photo gallery of our Family Program click here

To purchase a copy of UBUNTU: The Street Child Story click here