Education Safety Home Love for Endangered Orphans

By handwatering, Hope for Children Center has been able to grow toward the goal of food sustainability in the past 6 months.  Our new administrator and his farm manager Martin have planted acres of maize, tomatoes, kale, onions, spinach, cabbage and melons.  As soon as funds can be raised to fence the remainder of the farm to keep two and four legged critters out, even more can be raised.  The children love helping on the farm, and are learning valueable skills that will help them through life. After the fencing, installing an irrigation system utilizing our well water would move us even closer to growing all of our own food, as well as selling some to the locals.

We still struggle with paying school fees for our 40+ high school students. It costs nearly $1,000 a year for each of them. Since education is a high priority, we are skimping in many other areas to pay their tuition, room and board.  With over 160 children, there are alway unexpected expenses.  And, they grow!  Right now, all of our kids need shoes and every day clothing, but there is no money.  Imagine a family this large aged 3 to 18, and growing like weeds.

Some of our near goals other than just the everyday needs of our children include a new pre-primay/baby school; a computer lab for our primary students in grades 6 - 8; more text books and other educational support supplies; fencing, and irrigation.  Our vehicle is being held together with a hope and a prayer.  We have an endless list of needs, but a depleted bank account.

Our administrator and new teachers are doing a wonderful job of utilizing every dollar we send them.  They are the best we have ever had, making our center into a home and school of excellence.  We are proud of them, of our children, and do not want to let them down by not being able to provide basic necessities.