Child-headed households are usually from the poorest sectors of society, unaware of their rights or having no one to advocate on their behalf. Daily they suffer more than the death of their parents.
They can experience poor nutrition, loss of land, food sources and homes, damaging psychological effects of stigma, shame and isolation and risk sexual abuse, turning to the sex trade to raise money or recruitment into armed militias.
Churches working through hundreds of church volunteers, including those with HIV, are helping millions of children to cope with lives as orphans.
Tearfund shares the Archbishop's hope and sense of purpose - working with churches in the frontline response to HIV and Aids.
Dr Williams said governments needed to be challenged to work effectively with faith-based organisations and he praised projects being run in Africa and elsewhere in which organisations like Tearfund are using the churches' capacity to raise awareness, promote education and deliver care to those affected by the condition.
Through churches and Christian agencies, Tearfund supports over 120 projects responding to HIV from as far a field as Egypt to Cambodia. Most of Tearfund's support is focussed on the worst hit regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Countries here include Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Uganda.
Tearfund's Bring Childhood Back to Life DVD contains three and eight minute versions of the films. They are ideal for churches and small groups.
The pack also contains a detailed booklet full of facts and figures that put the orphan family stories in context, together with quotes, prayers and full details on how churches and individuals can help Tearfund bring childhood back to life.
