Like many poorer countries in the world, South Africa has huge unemployment problems with, in some areas, up to 50 percent unemployment. There are a growing number of social ills: the rapid spread of AIDS has left many children as orphans to fend for themselves, and often when parents are employed, they work long hours for low wages without being able to provide a secure and close-knit family life. Some parents have abandoned their children and it is not at all uncommon to find children as young as eight begging at busy street intersections or on major shopping streets.