Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Swaziland
| 1. | There are about 1 million people living in Swaziland |
| 2. | About half of the people are under the age of 16. |
| 3. | There are few orphanages (as we know them) in Swaziland and there are at least 60,000 orphans. This number grows daily as a direct result of the AIDS epidemic in Swaziland. |
| 4. | There are 785 "orphan points" - orphan points are locations where orphans meet to spend the day. The meeting place may be something as small as a chicken coop or as large as an abandoned commercial building or may be simply a gathering out in the open. The children may or may not be supervised by adults. If food is available the children will receive only one meal, 5 days a week. |
| 5. | The country is about the size of New Jersey and made up of 55 electoral districts in which there are 360 Chiefdoms. This means there are 2 or 3 orphan points per Chiefdom. |
| 6. | As of January 1, 2007 the basic needs for these children remain unmet. |
| 7. | It is estimated that between 100 and 120 of the 785 orphan points need projects like the Walter Project. The remaining would only need a permanent feeding kitchen and shelter at a cost of approximately $20,000 at each site. |