On a clearing overlooking the surrounding countryside lies a little village. As we draw nearer we hear the sound of children at play. Three donkeys greet us with a friendly little nudge as we enter the outskirts of this miniature town. The laughter of children echoes through the valley as three children frolic with an energetic puppy. On closer inspection we notice that the cute pup only has half a tail and the young boy beside him, a deformed face. But this wounded image fades fast when the boy giggles as the excited dog licks his face in happy delight.
As we walk through the village we pass clustered farm houses each with their own food garden and a fruit tree shading their lawn. In the middle of the village stands what is obviously a community centre. From it floats the sound of song. A concert is obviously in full swing! A teenage girl in a floral dress rushes through the doors of the community centre, proudly displaying a newly weaved basket on her arm.
On our stroll through the narrow little streets we meet a woman with a baby on her hip. She proudly explains that this peaceful haven we have stumbled across is, in fact, the Jochebed Children’s Village. The children residing here were all abandoned, abused or orphaned, but have since been rescued and adopted by the residents of this town. Each child now lives in his or her own house with five brothers or sisters. Except for the fact that the children are divided according to sex, each farmhouse is like any other home. Each has its own kitchen, washing machine and garden. And the children within are expected to help in the food garden, feed and care for the pets and do their homework on time.
These images may only be the ramblings of our imagination; the plans however, are very real. What is described is a depiction of what The African Blessings Team has in mind for The Jochebed Children’s Village. These self- contained farmhouses will all be powered by solar energy and the entire village will leave a very small carbon footprint. Further aspirations for this village include an onsite clinic with a fully-trained nurse and medication on hand as well as a counselling room and an early childhood development centre.
One that is shared by numerous volunteers, sponsors and employees, all of whom have a vested interest in making The Jochebed Children’s Village a reality.
Watch this space for news and developments on our progress.
