A clean hospital – a dirty street. Soft blankets in a crib – a bed of full garbage. Love and acceptance – mistreatment and abandonment. This is the difference between your life and an orphan’s in North Africa.
Most orphans become so because of poverty – their parents just cannot afford another child. So the baby is dumped in the garbage, or left on the streets. The lucky ones end up in an orphanage.
The authorities supplies each orphan with a measly $40 per year. Imagine how much food, clothing, shelter, and school supplies that can provide. (You’re right – almost nothing.)
Recently, a young woman named Naomi volunteered at an orphanage through Hope for MENA.
Naomi playing with the children in the orphanage.
“I love to be around children - to see them having fun, playing with each other, with an innocent mind not yet hardened by the big bad world. As much as I love to see them in their own little world, I get a bit jealous, because I wish I could still be there, too.
Before coming to Africa, I read a book about orphans there. I had no idea how much this orphanage would differ from what I had read. In spite of its drab appearance, when I took my first step into the orphanage, it felt like coming home. On my first day, I met the 50 girls living at the orphanage, being raised by such selfless hands. I felt honoured to be part of their lives, even if it was just for a few weeks. If all I did was put a smile on some faces, that would be enough. This was one of the main reasons I decided to go to North Africa: to make a change, small as it may be, but still to make one.
By day two, I was a celebrity. One girl noticed me, and soon the rest were crowding around me, shouting my name, and clamoring to greet me with a kiss on the cheek. They were fighting over the right to hold my hand. I had never received such a welcome before! I was a stranger, but these girls had already invited me in to their little world. What a privilege to part of their community; one that laughs together, cries together, learns together, fights together, and grows together.
Even though I only got to spend a short period of time with the girls, the experience will stay with me forever. I’ve learnt that you cannot change the whole world, but to change one life is a great start. Giving is worth so much more than receiving. You can be that change in someone’s life, and help bring a little light back into their eyes.”
Today, the orphanage Naomi visited provides shelter, meals, and education for over 80 girls. With miniscule government contributions, the orphans live by faith almost every day of the year.
Join us to continue the transformation!