Recognizing the need of orphaned children extends far beyond the walls of Malayaka House, we decided to reach out to other children’s homes in the area that were in desperate situations. These are larger operations that house up to 80 children, with only a one or two of caregivers. They have no funding or income. Their water and electricity had been cut off due to their inability to pay the bills. The children were forced to fetch water from dirty wells, along a path that was often lined with menacing adult faces. Once the sun went down the dormitories and grounds were pitch black. Strangers would walk through their properties and steal what little these children had – shoes, saucepans, even mattresses. The children ate the same thing every day – kotogo – a root vegetable mixture that looks like a big mashed potato mixed with beans. They cooked on 3 stones in an enclosed metal shack, which was not only ineffective but extremely unhealthy.

We petitioned to get specific funding for these outreach projects and quickly went to work! First, we built them fuel-efficient ovens and ventilated structures to use as kitchens. Their need for fuel (wood or charcoal) was cut by up to two-thirds, and they were no longer susceptible to lung diseases from smoke inhalation. We added gutters to all of the buildings on the properties and routed them into large underground tanks to collect the rainwater that falls freely on a regular basis in this equatorial climate. The children now have safe, clean, free drinking water right in their compound. We installed solar panels wired to batteries that now provide light outside the dormitories and kitchen. We built a fence around the properties to keep the children and their possessions safe. In order to supplement the children’s diet we started farms. This is an ongoing process, of course, as farms need time to grow, but we currently have animals such as pigs, goats, cows, fowl, sheep, and rabbits at these projects, and we have planted just about every type of fruit and vegetable that we could find. This is a fertile land with a climate that is favorable for most crops.

The immediate needs of water, security, and electricity were taken care of quickly. The need of a more nutritious diet is being addressed as vegetables grow and trees begin fruiting. Short-term goals have been met, but we also have a long-term goal - to teach these children how to maintain the systems we have put in place so that they can support themselves, both as functional homes and also as individuals who now have skills that they can use to gain employment once they grow up and leave the homes.

The plans for these outreach projects continue to grow and develop as we learn more about what works, what is realistic, and what will give the greatest benefit in the long run. Please contact us if you would like more information on these projects, or if you would like to support them.