orphans – Generation Change

Love first for Cameroonian charity founder

mueserk — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 14:22:10 +0000

On a trip to South Africa a few years ago, Jesse Carlton Ndongo, 21-year-old student from Cameroon, was touched by the large number of children he met who’d been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. He saw first-hand the pain and anguish they face, but also noticed that they seem to be neglected by the rest of society. He felt that he had to do something about it. So three years ago, he founded the Carlton Smile Charity on Easter Sunday.

The charity is already active in five African countries – Cameroon, Nigeria, Gabon, South Africa and Zimbabwe – and has plans to expand even further. Carlton tries to stand out from other organizations in that he doesn’t focus first on giving the kids material goods. Instead, his first priority is to show them love.

Listen to the report by Ngala Killian Chimtom in Yaoundé, Cameroon:

http://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/files/Love-first-for-Cameroonian-charity-founder.mp3

Carlton says the kids he meets in orphanages are often closer to the things in life that really matter (Photo: N. Chimtom)

Carlton has a team of volunteers who work in orphanages across five countries (Photo: N. Chimtom)

Adoptive mom in Uganda provides food and love to 13 girls

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:03:47 +0000

Four years ago, Katie Davis was homecoming queen at her high school in the United States. Today, the 22-year-old is a single mother of 13 girls in Uganda and feeding hundreds of hungry children every day.

Adoptive mom in Uganda provides food and love to 13 girls

In 2008, Davis started a non-profit organization called Amazima, which means “truth” in the Lugandan language. With help from donors, Amazima sponsors 400 orphaned or vulnerable children to go to school. It also assists them with food, medication, and school supplies to ease the burden on their parents or relatives and ensure that the children can be raised by Ugandans in Uganda. The job of director supports Davis and her foster daughters in Uganda.

When she’s asked if 13 girls are too many to care for, Davis is adamant that she can handle it and says the courts in Uganda agree. For each girl, a judge has ruled that Davis’ guardianship is in the child’s best interests. Davis still needs to gain legal guardianship of some of the girls, which costs $3,000 in legal fees. She’s authored a book to be released in October, called “Kisses from Katie,” to raise the money.

A child welfare official in Uganda, Caroline Bankusha, says 13 girls in one foster home isn’t ideal, but concedes that so many children in Uganda suffer from poverty and lack of care that exceptions must be made.

While Davis wants to adopt the girls, she’s too young. Under Ugandan law, adoptive parents must be 25 years of age, and at least 21 years older than the child to be adopted.

“I think that’s definitely something that I was made for, and God just designed me that way because he already knew that this is what the plan was for my life, even though I didn’t,” she said.

Check out Katie’s blog here.

US college student stays committed to Romanian orphans

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:08:44 +0000

Clare first went to a Romanian orphanage 11 years ago. She was 17, and her school offered a chance to volunteer over spring break. That week, she got an idea that would change her life – and the lives of the kids.

Listen to the report

Here is the website of Clare’s organization, Open Doors.

Former street child in Indonesia gives back to kids in need

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:25:00 +0000

Willie from Indonesia grew up as an orphan on the street, where he faced sectarian violence, forced labor and broken promises. Now, he is working, studying and volunteering at the crisis center where he’d found refuge.

Listen to the report