Home of Love Orphanage for Vulnerable Children

For over 20 years, the country of Uganda has been embroiled in civil war. A major combatant group in this civil war is an oppressive, demonic cultic group called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). This group, led by the murderous and inhumane Joseph Kony, has used the 10 commandments in an evil and distorted way to justify their mutilation and murder of the Acholi people, Kony’s own people. As a result of this war, the region has been devastated. The LRA Rebels have killed people and abducted children. Families have been destroyed and people have been displaced. African Leadership, in partnership with Action International in Gulu, is serving the needs of these Acholi people.

There are nearly 2.5 million orphans in Uganda, with estimates that this number may grow to 8 – 10 million within 10 years. The primary cause for this large orphan population is HIV/AIDS. While Uganda has, in recent years, become the bellwether country in acknowledging and dealing with the problem of AIDS, the large adult population already infected with the disease will lead to many more orphans in the country. This leaves a “lost generation” of children with no one to advocate or pay for their education, health, and basic needs.

Proposal

The Home of Love is an advocate for many Acholi children who are orphaned by AIDS, disease, and war. It provides for their basic needs in a Christ-centered, safe and loving environment. Children are referred to Home of Love from the Ugandan Government Child Welfare office and other organizations. Many of the children are AIDS/WAR orphans; others have been rescued from crisis situations such as abandonment and physical violence. The children receive trauma counseling, housing, food, medical treatment, clothing and life skills training. A staff social worker seeks to locate relatives of children brought to Home of Love. Whenever possible children are reunited with their relatives and supported in the relative’s home through payment of school fees, basic necessities, medical assistance and regular home visits by the on staff social worker. Home of Love has dormitories, cook house, dining hall, borehole, playing field, gardens and an on-site nursery school. The children will have a chance to heal from their trauma and move forward with their lives. The mission of Home of Love is to raise the children in a godly environment where they can experience the love of Christ and have a hope for the future.

The Orphanage currently houses 47 orphans, and provides support to 14 more orphans who have been reunited with relatives after living at the orphanage. The orphanage has the capacity to grow to 100 orphans when 3 new home projects are completed and the operating costs to support these additional orphans are raised. The orphans are formed into family units of 15 children, one dorm mother and an auntie. The male staff act as uncles. They receive Bible training at school and in the homes via daily Bible studies which the dorm mothers hold. The children and staff also walk to a nearby church that is affiliated with the ministry of Pastor Geoffrey Ocan, African Leadership’s national director for Uganda.

Total Need

$70,000 annually for current orphanage operating costs (staff, food & clothing, medical, supplies, etc.)

$45,000 (additional) annually for orphanage operating costs to expand to 100 orphans

$90,000 one-time needs (solar panels, security fence, bus, mattresses, wardrobe closets, playgrounds)

$14,000 one-time for income generating projects (chickens, pigs, cows)