Mapetla Care Center

Children at Soweto's Mapetla Care Center are showered with love by their teachers. Many were left behind when their parents died in South Africa epidemics. (Photo by Darren Taylor)

'I like the children like my own children," a teacher says. 'I’m not teaching them; I’m developing them!” she exclaims. “I love them … I like their noises!” (Photo by Darren Taylor)

Principal Lucky Pekane gives anti-retroviral syrup to an HIV-infected child. Many of her students were orphaned by infectious diseases such as HIV.  (Photo by Darren Taylor)

In their art, Pekane sees visual hints of problems some of the children experience at home:  blood flowing in a red stream from a figure spread-eagled on grass, another holding what looks like a jagged knife. (Photo by Darren Taylor)

When the children gather to sing, Pekane fears they will be singing their last song in this poorly funded school that is a haven in a nation shadowed by infectious diseases. (Photo by Darren Taylor)