The Watoto wa Jamii project is a child-centered initiative designed to improve access to integrated HIV and cancer care for vulnerable and orphaned children living with HIV/AIDS (CLHIV) in East Africa, especially those at risk of or affected by cancer. Its core objectives are to (i) raise awareness and stimulate demand for childhood cancer and HIV services, (ii) provide continuous medical and psychosocial care for CLHIV, and (iii) offer a safe, nurturing environment through foster care services. The project specifically targets children aged 1–17 years, along with their caregivers and communities, addressing their health, psychosocial, educational, and livelihood needs in order to strengthen resilience and improve long-term survival outcomes.

 

Targeting 1,000,000 children aged 1–17 living with HIV across East Africa, the project will directly engage children at heightened risk of cancer while indirectly reaching over 20 million caregivers, PLHIVs and community members. Priority implementation begins in high-prevalence regions in EAC, with a phased regional rollout over five years. Services will be delivered through a three-tiered model: (1) In-House Services within a state-of-the-art foster home for critically ill or displaced children; (2) Out-of-House Services providing community-based care through foster families, fit persons, and caregiver empowerment; and (3) Outreach Services driving mass education, stigma reduction, and early cancer detection.

 

Over five years, the program will establish multiple flagship foster homes in each country with annual capacity for 1,000 CLHIVs, train 4,300 Fit Persons, set up 2,000 foster families, support 20,000 caregivers economically, and reintegrate 10,000 children into education. Implementation will proceed in three phases: piloting and foundational work (Year 1), expansion and integration (Years 2–3), and national consolidation and sustainability (Years 4–5). The five-year budget of USD 206.8 Million is allocated across land acquisition and construction (36%), foster home operations (32%), medical and cancer services (16%), education and skill-building (11%), and public awareness (5%).

 

Watoto wa Jamii consortium brings together a coalition of trusted institutions across EAC who will leverage their complementary expertise, networks, and resources to ensure timely access to medical care, psychosocial support, education, and livelihood services for children living with HIV, while strengthening community systems and advancing long-term sustainability.