DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2016.v04i09.016

Pages: 1064-1070

This study assessed NGOs empowerment of HIV/AIDS orphaned children to develop life skills relevant for survival in Njoro Sub County. In Kenya, 2.5 million children under the age of 18 years are orphans. Out of these 2.5 million children, 1.5 million are orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS lack access to important life skills for survival due to poverty and illiteracy. This denies them better job prospects, economic independence and a general good standard of life. To ensure these children enjoy their rights, NGOs have been involved in empowering them by mitigating the challenge of lack of necessary life skills for survival. However, little has been done on assessment of NGOs empowerment of HIV/AIDS orphaned children to develop life skills relevant for survival in Njoro Sub County. The study was informed by the Empowerment theory by Andrea Diane (1995). The study used descriptive research design. Purposive sampling was used to get a sample of 47 children respondents and 10 key informants comprising of 2 NGOs officials and 8 community volunteers. The study collected and analyzed both qualitative and quantitative data. The results obtained indicated that the NGOs have implemented programs to empower HIV/AIDS orphaned children on how to develop skills relevant for survival like taking the children to school. The study found that children respondents’ lives have changed positively and they have access to important life skills and better job views. The study recommended that the NGOs should consider paying school fees and provide school requirements to HIV/AIDS orphaned children uniformly to avoid cases where some beneficiaries feel favored while others feel discriminated against by the NGOs.