“I send letters of encouragement to the orphanages to let the kids know that they are not alone, and they pray for me all the time. Most of their parents are deceased. Some of them would have been living with their grandparents who can’t take care of them properly because of their old age. The orphanage is there to provide meals for them and to ensure that they are involved in some of the village activities, to encourage them to attend church and to give them something to look forward to beyond going out looking for food. The orphanage acts as a meeting point for the kids. They organise sports events and play time around the orphanage. “We are trying to start farming to grow some maize, rice and vegetables, and pig raising, so that they can do this and sell the crops and they’ll then be able to earn their own money rather than subsisting on handouts.” Jeranjie’s family has a background in such local services, as her mother was a district health officer during her career in nursing. “One of the plans is to build accommodation for the orphans, with a kitchen and a dining hall, and to employ a full time officer who can oversee the children and cook the meals.”
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