ABOUT AIDS

Namibia gets its name from the Namib desert, which is said to be the oldest desert in the world. The country is vast, one of the largest countries in Africa, and has had a turbulent history under an oppressive German and then South African rule. It became independent in 1990 and is now a peaceful country with a fairly stable economy based primarily on mining, agriculture and fishing. However, there are huge income disparities within the population – the majority of people are poor, with limited access to social services in certain areas. Unemployment is estimated at around 30 to 40%. The country's ethnic makeup is diverse, including Ovambo, Kavango, Herero, Damara, Nama, German, Afrikaans, Caprivian and Bushmen

THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IN NAMIBIA

Namibia has a population of just over  1.8 million people  and an adult HIV-prevalence rate of about 24%. The number of orphans is growing rapidly – presently it is estimated that  there are 180, 000 orphans in the country. That means that nearly 1 in 10 people in the country is an Orphan.

These are staggering figures.

Beautiful Gate was born from a heart of love with a desire to see change and restoration brought about through doing as Jesus would have us do; helping those who are needy and vulnerable.

Traditionally orphans would have been taken into the extended family. But this system is becoming increasingly overburdened. A grandparent can end up sometimes in charge of 12 orphans, when the monthly pension of 250 Namibian dollars (about US$32) for people over 60 becomes the whole family’s income.