We believe that every child has the right to grow up with access to a healthy and well rounded lifestyle, without having to work 40 hours per week in order to be look after themselves and often their siblings because either one or both parents have died of HIV/AIDS. These children (generally no more than 15 years old), often because of lack of parental guidance and care, have had no other choice but to turn to dangerous lifestyles such as prostitution, slavery and rough living, all of which makes them more vulnerable to contracting the HIV Virus. Perhaps a more disturbing consequence is that these orphaned children are less likely to be enrolled in school, not always out of choice but primarily because there is no way for them to pay their school fees.

The scale of the HIV/AIDS pandemic especially on young innocent children, who through no direct fault or choice of theirs, is truly unlike anything else many of us have ever experienced. With no access to adequate health facilities, medicines and care, HIV/AIDS is having the greatest impact on the weakest in the local communities- the children. There are more than 13 million children currently under the age 15 who have lost one or both parents to AIDS, most of them in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. By the year 2010, it is expected that this number, orphaned through AIDS will rise to more than 25 million, with the greatest portion of these taking place in sub Saharan Africa. Grimmer still, is the picture of the average life expectancy in sub Saharan Africa has considerably dropped from 62 years to 47 years . Lack of access to proper and effective medical treatment is major factor for the rampaging effect of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

However, as an organisation, we believe that where there is no definitive cure for AIDS as at present, there can be hope and encouragement for living a purposeful and happy life especially for the young children. As a result, Footsteps for Life aims and objectives are to provide much needed resources such as toys, picture books, and other essential utilities necessary for a child's development such as schooling equipments. We aim to be able to bring hope where there is despair.

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