Youth Helping Youth

A new program to assist AIDS orphans in Swaziland is pinning its hopes on affluent American teenagers and youth groups to help feed, clothe, and educate the estimated 15,000 Swazi children forced to live in households where there are no adults. Called Young Heroes, the program allows individuals, families, and groups to sponsor orphan families. Derek von Wissel, head of Swaziland's National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS, says he hopes young people in wealthy countries will be the backbone of the program. 'Our primary goal is to motivate youth as individuals and in groups'to become involved in the fight against the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS.'