Our mission is to provide homes and to support the fundamental needs of orphans around the world
NEWS!!! AFO Project will be shown on Prime TV Hot Property 11th and 18th January 09
Read more about the project here...
Northern Star - 2 Oct 07
Ballina Info Blog
Northern Star - 4 July 08
Ballina Advocate - 17 Sept 08
Written by Janelle Gibson on behalf of the AFO committee
For Christmas this year, Aussies for Orphans (AFO) would like to give you the gift of knowing just how much you have contributed to changing the lives of so many children, women and communities in East Africa.
In January this year we auctioned our beautiful Aussies For Orphans house in Ballina Heights NSW. As you know, we were absolutely thrilled that all of ‘our’ hard work paid off in such an amazing way, with a profit of over $100,000 being raised to go towards AFO projects in East Africa.
I have recently returned from six months in Africa (self funded) and was joined by Sue, Steve & the kids (Lewis) where we all visited the new projects in order to ensure that all the money contributed by this fundraising project went where AFO intended. I hope you enjoy the report I have put together. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like more information. My passion for the children and AFO projects is very well known and I never tire of talking about them.
Hot Property Update: After numerous phone calls chasing up Channel 7 this week (and almost bringing me to tears), they have informed me that they are “almost sure” (don’t you love that) our filmed piece on Hot Property will go to air on the 11th and 18th of January 2009.
The Aussies for Orphans team are very proud of all of our supported projects and we look forward to continuing to provide funding to many more. Merry Christmas from all of the members of the Aussies for Orphans committee and the children we support.
Warm regards, Janelle Gibson (AFO committee) www.aussiesfororphans.org PH: 6687 6004 M: 0434 025933
AFO committee = Sue & Steve Lewis, Oscar & Violet Bakos, Bob & Lyn Grivas, Deanna Savage, Janelle Gibson, Jenny Stuart and Margaret Shaw
ADZIWA PROJECT –
MALAWI , EAST AFRICA
NAKURU BABY ORPHANAGE (MIA) –
NAKURU, EAST
FOOD,WATER,SHELTER –
TANZANIA , EAST AFRICA
Janelle, Sue, Steve and the kids at the Mbagathi farm school visit in Kenya with the boarding parents and the school co-ordinator
The 2nd of the three bedroom homes built in Malawi
MALAWI , EAST AFRICA
AFO was approached by an Australian family living in Malawi to assist with a project aimed at providing homes for extended families, land to grow crops and a school/community centre for training. After careful deliberation AFO agreed to provide funding for 2 x 3 bedroom homes to house ten children each in a family situation and four classrooms in the school.
Monies raised from the sale of the house have allowed us to complete this stage of the project and plans are in place to re-assess further funding opportunities. Our second assisted family moved into their house earlier this year and Sue, Steve and their children were there to help them celebrate.
The family moving into this hom
Link to AFO Website
NAKURU, EAST
http://www.nakurubabyorphanage.com
Story and Singing Time (every afternoon) with AFO visitors
Breakfast of Madazi
MIA put a proposal to AFO for a nursery school as their children and many local community children are reaching pre-school age and the opportunities for schooling are limited. The commitment of this family, to these children could never be doubted. They are also very involved with assisting the local community in the form of clinics, housing, crops and very basic needs. During this years election crisis they worked so hard to provide welfare assistance to many people displaced by tribal fighting. I am in awe of their bravery during this terrible time.
As you can see by this photo, the nursery school building is well on the way and although there is still so much to do (and pay for) Ivan hopes to be able to enrol the children in 2009 ( a huge goal). I look forward to helping out in the nursery school next time I visit and can just imagine the many photo opportunities and stories this will bring.
The latest photo of the nursery school being built in nakuru, Kenya..Mary, Ivan (Australian couple who run the orphanage) and some of the babes.
New Dresses!
TANZANIA , EAST AFRICA
http://www.foodwatershelter.org
Building Kesho Leo underway
Janelle (Nu Nu) teaching English with the kids from Kesho Leo but also the kids we affectionately called the bush babies who would just appear out of the scrub when we started classes and playgroup.
‘Kesho Leo’ children’s village is located 7km outside Arusha in the village of Sinon. The aim of this eco-friendly village is to provide a self sustainable life for sixteen mamas (single, widowed or vulnerable women) and five children each (a mixture of their own children and orphans). This project also acknowledges the importance of forming strong community ties for these women so the project will also offer training and assistance to local farmers in organic farming, courses for women and youth, nursery school and health classes to name a few. A clinic is also being built to provide for the women and children at the village and eventually the wider community.
AFO has committed funds to build six sleeping bomas to accommodate a mama and five children and as you can see by the photograph the building process is going well. FWS hopes to have the first round of residents settled into their new home by January 2009.
This photo looks onto the accommodation wing being built - AFO is paying for 6 of these sleeping bomas (housing a mama and five kids - their own plus orphans)
Norah (she and her mum are moving into Kesho Leo) hard at study..
Some of the mamas moving into Kesho Leo (arent they devine)
Some of the mamas sewing - I sent across some money from myself and a few friends and we bought sewing machines, they have been making things out of local fabric (along with beads - that I taught them to make and other trinkets) to see to tourists at the christmas markets..
Link to AFO Website