There are over 150 million orphaned and abandoned children in the world. Current estimates indicate that there may be as many as 35,000 new orphans each week just from the HIV/Aids crisis alone. Africa has been ravaged by civil wars, famine, drought, diseases and poverty. Many thousands of children have no access to health care and have no chance to go to school.
Unicef estimates that over 11 million children worldwide are living in detention, most for committing petty crimes that would not even be considered criminal if committed by an adult. In some areas of West Africa, young boys and girls are bought and sold as slaves for the equivalent of $25.00.
Our vision is to help as many of these children as we can. We are currently undertaking to build an orphanage in West Africa, which we believe will be the first of many. God has provided a large parcel of land in Paracou, Benin in West Africa for this project. Paracou is in central Benin, and is an arid, dry area. Our land there is very fertile with several ponds, orchard and fruit trees.
We are planning to build to accommodate approximately two hundred children. This project will also include a large kitchen, dining room, two large class/meeting rooms and two apartments. In addition to their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, the orphanage will provide a Christian environment, Bible teaching, health and dental care, and an education. The older children will also be taught social skills, parenting skills and trades.
At the orphanage, the children will be taught to weave cloth, sew, make jewelry, farm and to do auto body and mechanical work. We are planning to start a bakery, and internet cafe and a beauty shop. The money that is generated by marketing the products of this work will go far towards making the orphanage self sufficient. The children will also learn about marketing, sales and various accounting skills. Learning these crafts will teach the children a trade so they can get jobs or start small businesses when they are grown.
Long term plans for this complex include a Christian School, guest house, a conference center and a Bible School.
We are investigating solar and wind power technology to find the latest that is available that can be used in this situation. Again, the plan will be for the orphanage to be as self-sufficient as possible.