World Vision Africa - Relief | Development | Advocacy

In 2002, governments of the Africa Union (AU) together with 127 others across the world envisioned “A World Fit For Children”. They foresaw Africa as a continent where children are safe from diseases like AIDS; where they have universal access to quality education and health care; and where they, their families and communities are protected from conflicts and exploitation.

Today, however, this vision of an “Africa Fit for Children” remains a distant reality:

• West and Central African countries have the lowest percentages of children attending basic or primary schools -- averaging just 65%.
• 12 million children across Sub-Saharan Africa have been orphaned as a result of AIDS.
• Just 22% of all Ethiopians have access to clean drinking water. 
• Only about 3% of children in Somalia complete fifth grade.
• Sahelian countries of West Africa account for some of the world’s highest child malnutrition rates -- reaching 44% of children in Niger.  
• Recorded births across Sub-Saharan Africa in 2007 approached 30 million, while deaths of children under age five neared 5 million.
• Mali and Malawi have the highest recorded rates of early marriage – 65% and 51% of girls respectively.
• An estimated 36% of children in Eastern and Southern Africa are victims of sexual exploitation.