Source: Report of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security – Directorate General of Social Programs (Department of Social Security)           The orphans’ sponsorship umbrella expanded by the introduction of the popular societal sponsorship system. The number of orphans sponsored by the Zakat Chamber reached 63737 in 2009. The number of students sponsored by the Zakat Chamber reached 38500 in 2009. This was an accumulative increase of 52% at a cost of 17.3 million Pounds. 93043 pensioners benefited from social support (medical treatment, sponsorship of female university students, sponsorship of brilliant students, sponsorship of orphans and other miscellaneous forms of support). This represented 87% of the targeted numbers at a cost of 46.5 million Pounds. Application of national policy of orphan sponsorship in different states (N Kordufan, River Nile, Gezira and Gadaref). Training courses on best ways to deal with orphans with participation of stakeholder from government agencies and NGOs. Establishment of orphan sponsorship center in Gezira state. Establishment of special cases of orphans in Khartoum. Establishment of orphan sponsorship with a vocational centre and hostels attached to it in Madani. The Zakat Chamber provides monthly sponsorships to help orphans meet cost of living in addition to providing school kits and new clothing during Eids (holy celebrations) and inclusion of orphans in the Health Insurance Scheme. The Zakat Chamber has introduced a new program to provide shelter to orphans who have no shelter (Orphan Housing Scheme). Number of houses provided through this scheme amounted to 1000 in Khartoum state, 500 in Kassala state and 300 in N Darfur state. The main objective of this scheme is to enable the Zakat Chamber to reach a maximum segment of orphans. The Investment Deposit Scheme: this is a new program for orphan sponsorship. It aims to provide the orphan with a permanent source of income (500-700 Pounds per month). 44