Build a future for children in a conflict zone

1. Mah Di’s Orphanage The Mah Di’s Orphanage was very effective and functional in the month of May. Within this month, they spent averagely 500,000frs (about 1,000 $) for food, medication, staff cost, bills etc. The children were able to eat four times a day. The school section was also operational from class one to four with plans to extend the school to class five by the next academic year. The orphanage also hired five teachers. Thanks to this initiative, most of the children in the orphanage are schooling except those who are below one year. They therefore, need more benches in the class room to accommodate the growing population. It should be noted that school is not going on in most of the South-West and North-West Regions due to the ongoing civil war. The orphanage is clearly under pressure these days. The building is tight and cannot accommodate all the children. This is partly because of the absorption of some displaced children between three months and 23 years old as a result of the war. There is thus, a need for expansion. Fishery, piggery, poultry, farming and animal husbandry remain their main sources of income. Within the month of May, they had a profit of 100,000 only from the piggery. The children have also engaged themselves in farming of cassava, corn and other food crops. They use proceeds from these farming activities for their up-keep. The orphanage has a high need for mosquito nets at the moment. They equally need kitchen utensils like pots, plates etc. Most of the children in the orphanage need pullovers especially as it rains much this season. This holiday period, the children are learning cooking, especially the bigger children. This practice keeps them busy and prepares them to manage their households in the future.

2. Father’s House Orphanage This orphanage was more functional in the month of May than the previous months. The kids ate three times a day, though sometimes food was not enough and they ended up eating twice during such days. The orphanage is now involved in selling yogurt to make ends needs. They spend 5000frs to produce the yogurt, which they sell at 10,000 making a 100% profit on the initial capital. They equally sell fish and palm oil, which helps in sustaining them. Due to the Anglophone crisis, the palm oil business has not been as lucrative as before. Sometimes sales are very low but this has not stopped the founder from working. “This palm oil business which Reach Out got for us is one of our main sources of income. Thanks to these palm oil, we are able to have some money for our up keep,” the Founder of the Orphanage testified. Due to the Anglophone crisis, children of Father’s House Orphanage have not been going to school. The situation persisted and the founder had to look for three teachers to come teach them at the orphanage, but the house is not currently able to pay them consistently. “I use to pay the teachers 20,000frs every month but they have stopped because this month I am not able to pay them again”. There are also shortages of basic commodities. Reach Out will keep working with your valuable donations to improve the situation of the orphanage. Mrs. Commy, the Founder of the Orphanage is thankful to God for keeping them alive and her gratitude equally goes to REO which remains the lone partner of the Orphanage, and to the donors for not giving up on them as others have.

Dear donors, thank you for being with us. these are the highlights of the year 2018.

Main actions

• Supported Fathers House Orphanage in Muyuka to create and expand a palm oil farm and to build a borehole.
• Supported Mah Di’s orphanage in Kumba to expand their poultry,  purchase of a sewing machine and construct a new classroom and toilet.

Achievements

• Mah Di’s orphanage has extended the poultry and piggery buildings. They acquired 5 cows. The piggery increased from 4 to 28 with piglets, and they are able to rare 500 chicks, 4 quills, 4 turkey, 1 goat, 3 sheep, and 4 rabbits.
• Mah Di’s orphanage now has a sewing machine and they are able to teach children to mend their dresses. All children of appropriate age have been taught this useful life skill. They now mend their dresses, which also saves some resources for the orphanage.
• In Mah Dis’, the impact of income generating activities has greatly increased. While in 2016 they represented less than 5% of the total income of the orphanage, now the orphanage self-generates more than 25% of their resources. The only challenge the businesses have are the current Anglophone Crisis which has depressed the economy.
• Mah Di’s: Recently, the children were trained by a local NGO on how to administer first Aid treatment and how to repair torn shoes. They are fixing their own shoes now.
• Mah Di’s: There was an increment in the harvest of the orphanage. Crops like Cassava, egusi, vegetables, yams yielded more than enough food.
• After months forcefully displaced, the children of Father’s house orphanage could come back home as security improved in their area.
• All the children who wrote any competitive exams this year have succeeded

Challenges

• Children of Father’s House Orphanage have been constantly running to the forest for refuge due to the current unrest that has hit Muyuka.
• Due to the conflict in Muyuka:  there’s no market for palm oil business which is the main source of income to the orphanage, the daily workers resigned, and the water project could not be finished.
• The dormitory for Mah Di’s orphanage is now too small and it cannot contain all the children
• Mah Di’s orphanage lacks enough chairs, tables, and desks for the children

Recommendations/projects of 2019

• Construct a fence at Ma Di’s Orphanage to prevent thieves from attacking the orphanage
• Purchase more bunk beds, matrasses, chairs, tables and desks at Mah Di’s orphanage.
• Support the orphanages with playgrounds.
• Temporarily support food security in Father’s House Orphanage while they get back on their feet.
• If funds are available, both orphanages should get buses to transport the children, since the security context has deteriorated so much.

Conclusion

It is not a nice picture, but it’s the real one. These two houses are safe havens for vulnerable children in the middle of a civil war. They have lost most of their usual donations and funding, and they only have your support and that of a few more individuals. It is because of your support that both houses are still standing strong and are able to take care of their children in this horrible context. Thank you for that.

Links:

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• facebook page