CHILDREN TO THE FORE! - SAfAIDS

• Children constantly look for their parents' love and the security that parents offer.• Children need a sense of belonging.• Children find identity in the family unit.• Children long for someone to trust.GogoLove, care and protection are necessary for children to be able tomeet their needs. These needs are physical, emotional, mental, socialand spiritual. You will need to remember these important elements inbuilding children's strength and resilience, because we will bereviewing them in future discussions.Topic 1: How HIV Affects Children•Rumbi understands the impact of HIV on children,so she helps the trainer toexplain this session.RumbiHIV has a negative effect on children's lives. It takes away their verybasic survival rights…the ones listed in the Convention on the Rights ofthe Child, such as the right to live in a family, the right to familyprotection, and the right to identity and education.• How does HIV affect children? Ask participants to call out answers randomly and note these on aflipchart. Some examples are given below to help you. It might be a good idea to display thisdiagram to participants for visual impact.no love, protection or affectionschool dropoutsstigma and discriminationhaving to care forsick family membersHow HIV affectschildrenloss of property or inheritancepain, grief and traumapoor health and nutritionFigure 2sexual exploitation andabuse by relativescontracting HIVpoverty – street children,child labourHandbook on Child Rights and Culture21