A catastrophe is beginning to unfold in West Africa. Most of the countries in this region have crossed the 5% threshold, and therefore are in the explosive phase of the AIDS pandemic with potentially grave consequences. The AIDS crisis has led to an explosion in the number of children orphaned by AIDS. The first step is to understand the problems and resources available for AIDS orphan care in West Africa. It is obvious that more has to be done to address the issue of AIDS orphan care. Out of arose the need to develop and implement a program that will mitigate against the hardships faced by AIDS orphans on West Africa. Urgent Relief Inc ha screated a program titled: A Shoulder to Lean On. This program is about improving the lives of children orphaned by AIDS in the region The program has two main components:

Orphanage Support Programs

Extended Family Programs

This program will help develop strategies for approaching two main challengies. Addressing the basic needs of orphaned children and the need for income generating projects to strengthen and sustain extended families.