The idea of the Joseph Project came about as a result of Shirley's visit in June 2008 to isolated villages on the Togo/Benin border. In every village there were appeals for help with the problem of ever-increasing numbers of orphaned children as a result of AIDS, cholera and deep poverty combined with lack of roads and health workers. We want to help local villagers solve their own problems (namely take care of orphans) and improve their general situation by introducing better methods of hygiene, sanitation and farming, and eventually develop a self-sustaining children’s home in Sika-Kondji, Togo. The KEY points about the Joseph Project are that it should be accomplished with very little overseas funding so that any similar village can follow suit; and that the local team members themselves make decisions regarding new resources and methods that are best suited to the local situation. Western help will be focused mainly on providing simple technological ideas that will improve health, hygiene and sanitation, and produce better harvests of local crops. The initial project of the children’s home should involve the help of all the children as much as possible while also teaching them useful skills and applying biblical truths to the everyday work situations. It is hoped that in the future other villages will also be inspired by the example of the Joseph Project children’s home.
Children's home
Here is a photo of the village chief and Pastor Sika with his local ministry team, in front of the land donated by the chief for the children's home compound. The plan is to clear the land and construct simple local style buildings to house the approx 55 orphaned children in the village, along with houseparents. Plans include the provision of clean drinking water (through development of simple purification methods); well-built toilets and disposal of waste materials to prevent disease; and the introduction of simple, but effective ways to improve health and hygiene so that the children can learn how to live in a healthy manner from an early age.
Providing for the orphans
At present the orphans in Sika-Kondji live with villagers and receive some help in the form of school supplies, rice, clothes etc (whenever available) from Pastor Sika Yawo and his ministry that is based in the capital city of Lomé. However since about half of the village still worships idols, many of the children are treated more like servants and live in extreme poverty. Pastor Sika's local team members visit the orphans regularly to show love and teach about Jesus when they are permitted, but for many children these visits are the only ray of sunshine in the midst of the darkness and superstition in their daily lives. We believe that once these little ones can be cared for in a healthy and loving environment where they will also learn how to love and serve God, they will become agents of important change in both the village and surrounding area. We do not want the children (or local team) to become dependent on help from overseas, but until the orphanage can become self-supporting we would like to be able to help with some of the orphans' daily needs - only $100 per month will provide ALL the orphans with at least ONE basic meal of rice per day! If you would like to help, go to the page entitled "Get involved!" and CONTACT US!!
Agricultural project
This picture shows the beginning of the work of clearing and ploughing the 4 acres of land donated by the chief of the village. Much work had to be done in preparation for planting corn, rice and peanuts to help the orphanage become self-supporting. The Joseph Project includes plans to teach and implement simple improvements to local farming methods so that the orphans and local helpers can grow their own food for the orphanage. It is also planned later for the children to raise chickens, goats and other small animals for food, which will teach them useful skills and to learn to trust in God to help them rather than depend on outside help.
Progress of ag project
