Since 2007 Global Angels has been partnering with Orphfund to support the development of the Children's Community Village in Kamakwie. The village lies seven hours north of the capital, Freetown, and is an area that has received little or no aid for decades due to its remoteness.
I met Steve Argent, the Founder, after he had built the first orphan home. He had used his own funds to build the first buildings alongside friends and family who donated time and funds. Steve was inspired to make the projects self-sustaining very early on. Practicing a 100% Promise on donations, he was totally passionate and committed to helping these kids get the love, care and best opportunity to become successful and live happy lives. He showed the signs of someone who had thought through many aspects of the long term solutions that would transform whole communities and villages through his work.
As we have partnered over the last few years, Steve has proven to be a man we can trust. It's a pleasure to support his vision and to see the development of this projects.
In 2010, Ed Bussey, entrepreneur and adventurer, skied to the North Pole raising funds for Steve's project and has raised £5,000 towards the next stage of development in helping make this project sustainable.
I thoroughly recommend this project to you.
More of Steve's story:
The local community shared Steve's vision to create a center that can cater for the needs of vulnerable children and donated a large piece of land at the outskirts of the village. Over the past years a Children's Village has been designed that is the first of its kind in the region.
Initially Steve and his team of volunteers began by building a double accommodation block for 80 orphaned boys and girls to live in. At the same time they installed a water well and pump and created a small farm to grow their own vegetables and fruit. Eight local women were employed to work as full time care workers to help with the children's day to day needs.
Providing children With An Education
Within a year a second team of volunteers spent a month building the primary school that Global Angels funded and now educates all of the orphans. The school employs three local teachers and also welcomes a further 100 children in the area who come from extremely poor families.
Making Kamakwie Sustainable
Since the project opened they have invested in various schemes to help take steps in making the village a self sustaining one, that can create an income locally to cover its ongoing costs. This provides an ownership and empowerment to the local community and avoids aid projects that simply continue to throw money without solving the problems.
