You can read all about how Young Heroes works here.

And you'll find most frequently asked questions answered here.

Swaziland, a tiny country in southern Africa, has the world's highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection: Over 39% of all adults are HIV positive. More than 130,000 Swazi children have lost at least one parent to AIDS. It is estimated that within two years, that number will grow to over 200,000 kids. Already, over 15,000 households are headed by someone under the age of 18.

Young Heroes is a program established by the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS, which underwrites all our operational expenses. Our goal is to keep the children alive, healthy and living together on their family homesteads and in their communities where they have the greatest safety and security. We do this by linking them with sponsors who supply monthly funds for food, clothing and other necessities.

To help Young Heroes meet this goal, United World College students at Waterford KaMhlaba created the idea of the Young Heroes Challenge: They committed to raising funds to sponsor ten children themselves, and then challenging all other United World Colleges around the world to match or beat them. Now, schools, colleges and universities everywhere are accepting the Challenge by raising funds themselves to sponsor an orphan family.

Young Heroes launched in February 2006. By December 2007, we had found sponsors for over 300 families with more than 750 children. But we have registered over 250 children from more than 150 families already. We need your help to see that they are able to get the basic necessities they need.

YES, WE ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE!

Questions? E-mail us at challenge@youngheroes.org.sz