Because HIV/AIDS is such a heavy, multi-faceted issue, it's hard to view it simply as a virus. Along with the actual virus, we see HIV/AIDS in terms of the number of lives it takes, the social stigma it creates, and its growing prevalence in developing countries. Yet while these are examples of direct causation brought on by the virus, it's important to note how HIV/AIDS is so powerful that it indirectly affects people living without AIDS. As part of the United Nations' two day high level meeting on HIV/AIDS, two women (Sharon Slater from the group "Global Helping to Advance Mothers and Children" and Jennifer from "Mothers for World Care Ordinance") lead a panel about how AIDS has left over 15 million children orphans.
In their lives, both women have made extraordinary feats in addressing the orphan issue in their own countries. In Kenya, Jennifer helped found a movement that has placed over 4,000 Kenyan orphans into families. While Sharon has also done work in Kenya, her work has brought her to over 25 countries to push for HIV prevention and adoption policies.

This week at the UN an “AIDS” theme was prevalent in the various discussions and meetings that to. On Wednesday June 11 2008 a small caucus entitled Families & Orphans affected with AIDS was held in conference room B. This caucus was organized in order to spread interest in an adoption model based in Kenya, but can be potentially implemented in other parts of the world. The model was created by a woman from Kenya named Jenifer, who established the “Mothers for World Care Ordinance”; an adoption program in which families adopt children of aids victims. This program places orphan children from her community in Kenya into the homes of families of the same or sometimes neighboring communities. In return for their help, the program provides the families with basic material necessities such as food and clothing for the children. The program also provides training to families so that they can effectively handle the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the orphans. As a result of this program many orphans have found mentorship and are now able to live on their own.

The caucus was very small and intimate and consisted of a short presentation by Jennifer followed by a brief discussion and question and answer session led by Sharon Slater, a representative from the group “Global Helping to Advance Mothers and Children”. Despite its overwhelming success and effectiveness, this program is suffering from a lack of funding which can potentially led to its end. Although the caucus itself was a bit rushed, Jenifer’s presentation was very impressive and she was modest in her accomplishments. Her model and presentation were well thought out and detailed; however, in the question and answer session that followed the presentation several questions were posed by audience members regarding the “stigmas” and “controversy” often associated with international and domestic adoptions. Because of this many worry about whether this model can be implemented at a worldwide or even national level.