As early as 2002, the United Nations estimated that 9 percent of Eastern and Southern Africa's adult population was infected with the HIV-AIDS virus. The disease has struck down vast numbers of parents leaving as many as 1 million Tanzanian children orphaned. The Mufindi region is now estimated to have an HIV-AIDS incidence rate exceeding 20 percent of the population.

Responding to this tragedy has been the Fox Family who has been farming in the region for over 40 years. When the Family discovered how drastically HIV-AIDS had impacted the Mufindi region, they immediately took action to help their neighbors. They garnered help from their employees, village elders, and private citizens and, together with local government officials, provided the leadership, expertise, and funds to assist a number of village orphans that were living in the homes of strangers or distant relatives.

The first projects focused on health and education. The Fox Family team was instrumental in undertaking the extension work that turned the Ibwanzi Village dispensary into a Primary Care Hospital. They also commenced improvements to local schools, initially enlarging the Igoda Primary School and commencing some improvements to the nearby Luhunga Secondary School. Throughout, they have been active in encouraging local volunteerism and overseas visitors to assist with the improvement of conditions in these communities.

Even with these efforts, the Fox Family, their friends, local government agencies, and other citizens of the Mufindi region came to the conclusion that special provisions for some orphans and local communities would be needed to address this growing problem.

However, facilities capable of supporting the neediest orphans in Igoda and nearby villages would require more resources than could be raised locally. The solution to this dilemma lies in expanding the effort and establishing partnerships with others outside of Igoda, Mufindi, and Tanzania.

Grandmothers with extended families of orphaned children