This site is an online network has been created to join together all organisations that are involved with Orphans and Vulnerable Children and volunteers who have decided to spend time giving and sowing into the lives of children.
If you are:
* looking to volunteer your time and efforts with an organisation whose focus is helping orphans
* a group wanting to organise a mission trip whether its a short term mission trip for the whole family, for youth or for adults.
* wanting to join the network and meet other like minded people
* passionate about children and want to be involved in a community volunteer program
* are browsing around for an opportunity to volunteer during your gap year travels while you spend a year abroad
* wanting to adopt an orphan
* are excited about joining the throngs of international volunteers flying from one side of the globe to the other
* willing to get involved in building orphanages, children's homes, community projects
* want to be informed and understand the HIV/AIDS pandemic
* a visionary who sees the value in giving a child a hope and a destiny as they struggle through issues of abandonment, poverty, HIV/AIDS, abuse
* a Christian who understands the call of God on their lives and wants to walk out their faith in action
* looking for a charity to support in their efforts by volunteering your time
* wanting to make a donation or assist in fundraising for a worthy cause
* are a school, company, business, or social group looking to be part of a life changing corporate social investment opportunity
* a church, sunday school, youth group who want to adopt a project and support them through prayer, fundraising and creating awareness
* have a computer and internet and want to be part of our online volunteers group,who assist organisations through their online efforts
* interested in international adoptions
* wanting to sponsor an orphan
* keen to become part of a volunteer program that will benefit children and assist in their education
* are considering your options for your year out of school and contemplating doing something meaningful
* planning to travel and volunteer
* student at university who wants adventure, travel, experience or insight
... then the good news is that you are in the right place!
The Orphan Network is intended as a resource to each of it's participants in the labour of caring for orphans and vulnerable children.
Adoption means accepting legal guardianship, in accordance with formal legal procedures, of a child of other biological parents.
Who can apply for an adoption order?
* A husband and his wife jointly
* A widower or a widow
* An unmarried or a divorced person
* A married person whose spouse is the parent of the child
* The natural father of a child born out of wedlock.
The adoption order must be issued by a children’s court situated in the district where the child lives.
The children’s court may only issue an order after it has considered the prescribed report from an accredited social worker.
Thank you to all of you that have already helped us furnish the volunteer house. Its slowly taking shape. We are excited about how generous individuals have been in giving to the house.
If you would still like to help, here is an updated list of some of the things that we are still in need of:
1. Curtains, curtains, curtains (though we have a fair number of donations, not even half the house is curtained yet) or working blinds 2. Bins - bread bin, rubbish bins, bathroom bins, laundry bins 3. Buckets, mops, brooms 4. Tables and chairs, lounge suite 5. Mattresses for single beds 6. Pillows, Duvet Inners, blankets 7. Mirrors 8. Desks 9. Books, Puzzles, Games, Table Tennis, Board Games
As you can see, not all are necessities but we really want to turn the house into a home, somewhere the volunteers can relax after a long day, a place to unwind and just to be comfortable. If you have any ideas, let me know. We also need some volunteers to help us decorate, adjust the curtains, individuals who want to let some of their creativity to flow to make this all happen.
Our volunteers have been helping with AWOL which is an amazing event aimed at teens. They have been doing everything from putting up tents to running soccer clinics. The event is fantastic, definitely the first of its kind in the area. It can only grow from here. Its been a privilege for our volunteers to be involved in an event like this.
Recently we received a donation of milk from Rotary Richards Bay which really has gone out of their way to supply us with formula and nappies. We were really in need and as most of you know, formula is expensive and babies drink LOTS of it. We go through huge amounts of milk - the mind cannot comprehend. Here you can see some of the milk that was donated with one of our volunteers from Senegal - Ibou.
The news is out there, in our Facebook group, our website, our other website, our newsletter and this blog - THE BUILDING HAS STARTED! However there is something new, we have a bill of quantities for the new 21 baby facility. Basically its the breakdown of how much the new house is going to cost piece by piece. For those of you who want to partner with us, have a look at the list and see where you would like to jump in.
Announcement One
House of Hope
A group of expats living in
Congo-Brazzaville have banded together to support the orphanage House
of Hope during a time of transition. By February 2009 they must be out
of their current location, so we're raising $47,000 to get them a home
of their own.