Over 16 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to HIV and AIDS. In addition to those affected by chronic illness and death, many other children are confronted by the challenges of poverty and conflict. These vulnerable children often face material hardship, social stigma and psychosocial trauma. We risk losing a generation of children made vulnerable by poverty, conflict, HIV and AIDS. 

The Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI=, co-founded and supported by the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development and the Swiss and Swedish development agencies, has developed state-of-the-art psychosocial support tools to help children cope with their loss.