HIV/AIDS is one of the biggest challenges South Africa as a country faces. The rate of infection is rapidly increasing and more and more people are getting ill and dying from AIDS. Of all the people living with AIDS in the world, seven out of every ten live in Sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa has one of the fastest growing rates of infection in the world.

Government together with welfare and other organisations have started to respond to the AIDS crisis, but without a coherent and collective approach. Rainbow Kidz is ideally placed to play a significant and facilitating role that is needed to increase Aids awareness throughout the entire Grahamstown community. Bringing care programmes to every community affected by AIDS.

Our sphere of influence is not only with the children, but with volunteer workers and parents alike. The impact of AIDS is increasing and will continue to do so over the next few years. Rainbow Kidz has the capacity to bring together leaders of all sectors of the community, service providers and welfare organisations to improve Adult AIDS education and to provide care for people living with AIDS and their families.

Individuals, families and communities are badly affected by the epidemic. The burden of care falls on the families and children of those who are ill. Often they have already lost a bread-winner and the meagre resources they are left with are inadequate to provide care for sick family members or even food. Children who are orphaned are often deprived not only of parental care, but also of financial support. Many of them leave school and have no hope of ever getting a decent education or job. These children who grow up without any support or guidance from adults may potentially become South Africa's biggest problem in the future.

Most of the people who are dying are between the ages of 20 and 45 - an age when most people are workers and parents. This has serious consequences for South Africa´s economy and the development of the country. The welfare system is not able to cope with the number of orphans who need grants. The health system is already strained to provide basic health care for all diseases and in parts of KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng almost half of hospital beds are taken by people who are ill from AIDS.

AIDS can affect anyone. But it is clear that it is spreading faster to people who live in poverty and lack access to education, basic health services, nutrition and clean water. Young people and women are the most vulnerable. Women are often powerless to insist on safe sex and easily become infected by HIV positive partners. When people have other diseases like sexually transmitted diseases, TB or malaria they are also more likely to contract and die from AIDS.