When: ongoing
Today there are in excess of 600 children living in over 200 parentless homes in this one community, which is being devastated by AIDS. The youngest child bringing up its siblings is 8yrs old. As you can imagine the situation is dire, with very little food and water, most homes do not have cooking facilities or even electricity, the houses are deteriorating with ill fitting doors, mud walls and no-one to maintain them, and the children are vulnerable and open, not only to the elements but also to rape and robbery.
Working in conjunction with the Hope Centre in Pietermaritzburg, we recognise the need for a long term solution to set the children up for life, giving them a sustainable future where they are safe, educated and loved, restoring their culture. Children Building Nations is a project to build a village for these parentless children.
We will start by building a large home for the younger children that will house around 40 of the sickest and youngest children, going on to individual houses for the child-led households, with adult houses strategically placed among them, and communal cooking areas. There will also be a school, medical clinic and workshops so they can sustain a living. The land around the village will be used for the children to learn to farm and grow their own food. The project will be built in phases to suit the fluid situation that currently exists.
We intend to start building in March, 2008 when the rainy season finishes. Our UK builder / project manager has a team of people from the Sweet Waters community ready to start, the land for the project has been found and is being negotiated, and plans for the 1st unit have been drawn up. They will use local materials for the construction and ultimately the older teenage children will assist in the construction and be taught trade skills.
We require an estimate of £200,000 to construct the first building and an all-weather access road onto the land, which in its own right will be an essential step in the care of these children. To continue on to develop the rest of the village, ultimately we need around £1,000,000. (Detailed figures of the build costs are available upon request.)
If you would like to help us make the required difference to this community by contributing financially, please click below to donate.
If you would like to donate in US dollars please click here.
Thank you.