Young Heroes

Young Heroes in Swaziland was awarded the very first AllPeopleBeHappy grant in early 2008.  Swaziland in Africa has the world’s highest rate of HIV/AIDS, with over 40% of adults being infected.  This has resulted in Swaziland having nearly 70,000 orphans and over 15,000 child-headed families.  Young Heroes currently supports over 850 orphans in 370 families with food, clothing, and education.  The AllPeopleBeHappy foundation, with a grant of $10,000, became the charter sponsor of the Young Heroes Education Fund, which subsidizes the costs of secondary schooling (school fees, uniforms, and books) for the older children within the orphan families.  The program started with 24 youngsters for the 2009 academic year in 3 high schools in the town of Siteki in eastern Swaziland.  Of these youngsters, 16 successfully passed, six failed, and two dropped out.  Thanks to grants from Newman’s Own Foundation and Thomson-Reuters, the Education Fund will continue on.      (www.youngheroes.org.sz)