"Images by Sarah Van den Elsken" (by Sarah Van den Elsken) http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/22697 Images by Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her two brothers are waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The eldest brother gets to eat first and leaves early to walk an hour to school. The youngest children finish homework and leave to school on an empty Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s a sacrifice she makes to give them a better chance in life. Some young local women have taken up responsibility, they walk from house to house to help those in need. 145 People living in the rural area around Manguzi decided to get organized to take care of their fellowâ€*villagers. They try to educate on HIV testing, HIV treatments and condom use in the hope to break the deepâ€*seated isolation of the HIV positive. Abused and abandoned children are located so these can be helped with food provision, school uniforms or housing. They offer people a window to knowledge and welfare. Knowing the cultural habits with their weak and strong sides, these volunteers have a very strong influence. Around 11 a.m. one of the volunteers, Rose (32), arrives at Ndabeni’s house. The door is locked, she peers through a tiny window. A penetrating smell of excrements and festering wounds surrounds her. An old woman lying lifeless on the ground is staring emptily at Rose. Through the window she helps herself in. Ndabeni (78) was left in her hut to die after she got hit by a car. Since Rose found her, she passes by twice a week to nurse her wounds and change the sheets. In 2008 1.4 million South African children orphaned by AIDS. Many of them are extremely vulnerable; they are abused or abandoned and often end up in slavery or criminality. Dudu (29), orphan herself but now a selfâ€*confident woman with a family, is particularly concerned with their fate. She gathers the children after school and teaches them about rights and values. She is not afraid to discuss the sober reality. The children are offered a time and a place to ask for help and to help each other. Early afternoon Thandiwe’s children are at home. Her husband died of AIDS in 2006, she herself is now in the final stage of her disease. A stroke made her even less mobile and working for money is not possible anymore. Sending her children to school is too expensive. When pregnant with her last child, she neglected to go to the maternity hospital so Senamile (8) was infected as well. The government does not provide ARV therapy for children that young and Senamile will most probably never turn ten. Her uncle keeps an eye on her and does the basic household chores. Early evening Busi’s and Ntombi’s families come home from school. They sit together and chat, discuss about teachers and homework, do the chores. Andile (8), orphan since 2 weeks finds comfort when she plays with the girl next door. Her mother is ill too, soon she will share Andile’s fate. Once orphans were an exception in a world with large extended families, but now their situation has become too common. With no electricity, as soon as the sun goes down, the entire area is plunged into darkness. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/26816/n527209207_1484108_8024096_small.jpg Images by Sarah Van den Elsken | Sarah Van den Elsken http://www.lightstalkers.org/Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025401/007_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025401'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025401 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:31:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025401 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025401/007_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025401'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025404/009_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025404'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025404 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:32:15 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025404 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025404/009_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025404'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025407/020_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025407'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025407 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:32:57 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025407 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025407/020_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025407'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025410/024_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025410'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025410 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:34:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025410 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025410/024_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025410'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025413/030_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025413'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025413 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:38:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025413 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025413/030_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025413'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025416/032_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025416'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025416 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:39:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025416 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025416/032_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025416'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025419/036_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025419'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025419 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:40:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025419 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025419/036_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025419'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025422/044_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025422'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025422 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:41:13 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025422 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025422/044_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025422'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025425/045_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025425'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025425 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:42:00 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025425 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025425/045_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025425'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025431/050_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025431'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025431 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:43:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025431 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025431/050_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025431'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025434/051_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025434'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025434 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:43:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025434 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025434/051_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025434'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025437/054_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025437'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025437 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:44:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025437 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025437/054_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025437'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025440/058_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025440'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025440 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:45:12 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025440 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025440/058_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025440'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025443/059_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025443'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025443 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:45:49 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025443 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025443/059_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025443'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025446/064_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025446'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025446 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:46:27 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025446 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025446/064_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025446'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025449/066_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025449'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025449 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:46:59 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025449 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025449/066_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025449'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025455/074_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025455'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025455 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:48:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025455 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025455/074_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025455'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025458/078_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025458'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025458 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:49:21 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025458 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025458/078_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025458'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025461/085_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025461'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025461 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:50:56 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025461 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025461/085_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025461'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025465/086_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025465'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025465 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:51:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025465 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025465/086_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025465'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025470/087_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025470'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025470 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:52:07 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025470 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1025470/087_small.jpg' /><br />FELL APART, RECOMBINE Kwaâ€*Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2009. In this rural area HIV raged to its full extent, infection numbers are amongst the highest worldwide. This is a documentary on the life in a community where traditional family care has fallen apart. How do neighbors, children, mothers and friends survive when almost an entire generation has vanished by HIV/AIDS? In a region with very little industrialization, people are forced to work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Quite often they find a new life in the city and never return. If they do come home, they bring HIV. The virus has made an already weak society even weaker. Children are growing up fast, they are left with ill parents, ageing grandparents or younger siblings. Grandparents foster the babies, but are too old to prepare them for nowadays society. A new kind of family has established itself, child headed households are beginning to be common. 5a.m., the sun is rising, Ntombi (14) is waking up. She lights the fire and prepares breakfast for her terminally ill mother Zodwa. Slowly her brother (10) is waking up, too. Their father died of AIDS two years ago. The children serve their mother’s antiretroviral â€*ARVâ€* therapy conscientiously, seven pills per day, at exact times and with compulsory meals. The children finish homework and leave to school on an empty stomach. Fifteen kilometers away from them, in a tiny hut on a deserted hill, Busi (20) is waking up too. Her parents and her sister passed away, she has been the head of the family for more than three years now. She was left behind with two younger siblings, the orphan child of her older sister and two children of yet another sister that has left for a better life in Mozambique. After years of extreme poverty, she now found a boyfriend who slips her some money now and then. Three nights of unprotected sex a week is what she is forced to give in return, knowing he sees other women as well. Since then her family can go to school. It’s<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1025470'>view full-size image</a> Sarah Van den Elsken