For the past two years, it has been our desire to implement a program, the Next Step House, that would get the older boys out of the orphan house and into a living environment where they can be further discipled, mentored, and trained toward manhood. Unfortunately, a major conflict arose here in Minembwe and everyone has spent the last two years in survival mode. The conflict is far from being over, but there is now enough security in our area that we feel it is the time to push forward with the Next Step House.
This Next Step House will be operated by LaOlam Africa (us), and it will be independent of the orphanage. We will start with the orphanages four oldest young men:
Sami, a 20-year old who LaOlam is sponsoring at the local university this year.
Tambwe, an 18-year old who just began an apprenticeship program with Miles, learning all phases of building, along with solar installation/maintenance, and basic mechanics. At this point, Tambwe is leaning strongly toward being an electrician.
Andre, also 18 year-old who is an excellent student near the top of his class. Andre wants to be a teacher.
Lawi, another 18 year-old. Lawi wants to be a doctor; he had the highest scores of all of the students in the secondary school.
Due to the ages of the boys and their current position in life, there is an urgency to get the Next Step program up and going quickly, and we will need some financial help in getting this done. We will need to build a house for the young men on our property, and then furnish the home with beds, a table, benches, cookstoves, and basic cookware.
Another motivating factor to get the Next Step House up and going is that the home of all the orphans is a little crowded as there are currently 35 girls, boys, young women, and young men.
To immediately ease the overcrowding, in February we took a small three-bedroom home located next to the children’s home, and Miles, Ntebutsi (the orphans’ house manager), and the four young men poured concrete floors and added three windows.
House Manager Ntebutsi took the work crew to his home for tea (with milk and sugar!)
We will keep you updated on the progress and further needs of the Next Step Home.
Somehow!
-Michael