Projects of Families for Orphans
The Uganda Orphan Project
Amandla Base & Relief Center first came to our attention because of their urgent need to replace several old buildings that were in danger of collapsing, creating a hazardous, even life-threatening, situation for the 60 orphans who live there.
The orphanage was established in Kajjansi, Uganda in 2011 and, initially, their goal was to match the orphaned children with foster families. Many loving foster families were found, but soon, for most of them, the financial burden was too much as they were having difficulty meeting their own needs. The orphanage itself was short on funds and struggled to provide for all the children in their care.
Early in 2016, Families for Orphans interim director, Debbie Rasmussen, became aware of the situation and discussions were initiated about taking on the Amandla Base & Relief Center as a Families for Orphans project.
The Acenda Project
In 2008 an orphanage located in Beira, Mozambique was shut down leaving many children homeless. Through previous years of volunteer work with an organization called Care for Life, there were many who grew to love these children and could not bear to see them be turned over to the government when the orphanage doors were shut.
Acenda was created to help the children who did not have any living relatives to return home to. Supportive families were found and given training before their foster child was placed in their care. To date, Acenda has placed 20 children with loving foster families in the Beira and Maputo areas. However, Mozambique is extremely challenged with poverty, and the foster families would not be able to take in an additional orphaned child without support. Acenda offers the foster families training on how to care for an orphan, regular monitoring of each orphan, and financial support.
Ways You Can Help
Donate
We all feel the pull to help these vulnerable children rise above their circumstances and find a better life, but it is easy to feel that there is nothing we can do. The scale of poverty and obstacles facing orphaned children is immense, and we seem powerless to stop it. Yet, even one dollar can make a difference in the life of an orphan. Your small donation can have a big impact in the life of one child.
“7 Days of Nothing“
Many families would like to help but feel financially constrained. Experiencing “7 Days of Nothing” is a way that every family can afford to help at least a little with no extra strain on the family budget.
The concept behind the “7 Days of Nothing” experience is very simple. Forego as many of the comforts of life often taken for granted as you and your family can, and for at least a week, try to live as close as possible to the way much of the world does. Then take the money saved and contribute it to the Families for Orphans program or some other worthy cause.
25 Ways to Help an Orphan
Everyone can make a difference in the life of a child. All it takes is a little creativity, time, and some small sacrifices to make a big difference.
- Organize a pancake breakfast or a spaghetti dinner with the proceeds going to an orphan project.
- Sell unwanted household items at a yard sale or on eBay and donate the proceeds.
- Do you have family who own a timeshare, condo or cabin? If so, auction off a weekend!