Karama Connection

St. Lucia Orphanage

St. Lucia Nursing Home and Orphanage was started by Winfrida Mwashala in Arusha, Tanzania. What started as an adult hospice for those dying of the AIDS virus soon became an orphanage for HIV positive children. Hospice patients came with children and once deceased, the children stayed because they had no other place to live.

St. Lucia is currently taking care of 26 children ranging from 1 to 17 years of age. They are receiving good nutrition (which is very important for HIV patients), good medical care, and education in caring for themselves as a person living with AIDS.

All of the children that are of school age attend school. St. Lucia has a person on staff to tutor them as sometimes they fall behind. This is due to illness of lack of schooling before coming to St. Lucia.

St. Lucia Orphanage

Now that St. Lucia is established and well–known in the community, families with orphaned HIV positive children know there is hope for their children.