Children’s Home
Started by Madam Wana, C.E.E.M. is now a home for 20 rescued desperate and destitute children, some orphans, from remote parts of the island. She has provided a safe family environment where the children are receiving education and thriving. They have become a caring close knit family.
We worked alongside Jerry Lutkemeier, who originally built the home, latrines and outdoor kitchen. Through a series of events he approached us to take over management and development of this project for this next season beginning 1st January 2016.
Through fundraising initiatives and visiting philanthropic teams over the last two years we have successfully completed the water catchment system on the main house and outdoor kitchen and built an underground water tank which holds and provides enough water after the rainy season for the children for a year. The extra stored water feeds rabbits and pigs and enables Madam Wana to have a small vegetable garden.
We had a trundle sewing machine so that they could make their school uniforms – which needs repair if you are interested in donating for that or buying them a new one .. normally around $250.00.
Our next projects are a playground and installing electricity and solar. We also have a longer term vision for vocational training for all the children to enable them to leave home at 18 and develop as healthy young adults equipped to be practical and potentially employable in the years to come.
Madam Wana is a compassionate woman who is a strong and a respected leader in her community and we are happy to support and facilitate her dreams and visions for the future of these children.
A vegetable garden is a great resource for fresh produce for the children and scraps for the pigs as money donated monthly pays for school, supplies and a very basic daily meal mostly of rice and beans. We take used soccer uniforms which provide colorful and hard wearing clothes. Tennis balls are their favorite thing to play with. On one visit the children made dolls which we brought back to the USA to sell to raise money. The children love visiting teams and all the fun activities they bring.
In November 2017 we finished building the triple bunk beds which means that all the children now have beds – no more sleeping on the floor. Sounds simple but a huge project because most roads are only accessible by motorbike. Most of the beds have mattresses - we need $350 for another 10 mattresses to be made.
Our latest members to the family are two fat pigs have recently had babies which is exciting – the plan is for Wana to sell pigs and make some income.