Uganda

Due to the violent conflict in Uganda in 2006 hundreds of children were orphaned and the country's high HIV rate has led to many other children losing parents and having to grow up alone. In many cases after the death of the parents it becomes the oldest sibling's task to take over the leadership of the other children and run a household all alone. This is what we call a child headed household.

Sometimes the oldest sibling is as young as 12 years old, but is given the responsibility to raise (often three or four) younger brothers or sisters. Taking care of the whole household does not only mean doing housework, but earning money on the streets by begging or doing different, often harmful, jobs. These tasks do not allow any time and do not provide enough money for these children to go to school and get an education that could secure a brighter future.

In spite of the African saying: "It takes a village to raise a child", child headed households are often discriminated against by the community. These children remain all alone and, unless they have an understanding uncle or aunt, often do not get help from any adults in the village.