She smiled even though she was dying and with complete seriousness, and a touch of desperation, asked, "Please will you help take care of my children when I'm gone?"

At 26 years of age, Nozipho* should be too young to die. Yet, without a thought for the young, the dreaded HIV/AIDS pandemic will claim another life. Her two children, aged one-and-a-half and four, will become orphans. The responsibility for their welfare and care will fall to their grandmother. Their home, a small two-roomed building, houses ten people: six adults and four children. None of the adults have employment. Nozipho's sister's baby is also HIV positive and medical bills are expensive. The family's only hope of survival is the SOS Children's Village Swaziland.

As part of the village's support to HIV/AIDS families and orphans in the community, Nozipho and her family are assisted with food, clothing and medical expenses. The village also empowers the family with gardening skills so they can grow their own vegetables to earn a small income and have healthy food on hand.

After spending time with Nozipho and her family the SOS Family Carer Co-ordinator heaves a big sigh, "There are so many families like Nozipho's and we (SOS) try to help as many as we can."

*name changed

***

Brenda Dimbleby is SOS co-worker in South Africa.