Through project Ucare Family Home we have built an orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania. We like to call it a family home, where the children will grow up surrounded by loving parents and all the care a child requires.

The summer of 2016, 30 volunteers, architects and students through Raw Architecture Workshop worked together with local construction-workers to build this home. The home was built for children that are considered ”non-adoptable”. The home can house up to 16 children, but is optimal for 12. The family home will be a foster home for the children, where they will grow up in safe and nurturing environment. They will also get high quality education.

History

The home is being built in cooperation with Neema House, a rescue-center for orphan, abandoned and at-risk babies in Arusha, Tanzania. Most orphanages will not accept babies because they are too expensive to care for and require too many workers. Neema House was therefor founded, to care for babies no one else would, and to return them to society when they turn 3-4 years.

Since 2012, Neema has helped hundreds of babies. Every child has a special story. Some lost their mother during childbirth, other have been abandoned. Some were sick, and in a terrible condition when they arrived at the orphanage. Neema House is contributing to give these little ones a chance in life.

Their goal is to return the babies to extended family, either aunts and uncles, grandparents or a single dad that is unable to care for an infant. If this is not possible, they try to find a good family to adopt the child. Unfortunately, some children are in special situation, that makes this difficult. Some children cannot be adopted because of disabilities, difficult family situations (for example abuse or other reasons). Therefor, there have become an increasing number of children that is in need of a permanent home. Since Neema House is a rescue center for babies and not a permanent home, several of the children are to old to continue to live there.

Our contribution

We decided to build Ucare Family Home for those children that cannot be adopted, or returned to extended family. A home with steady adults is a good alternative for these children, and will provide them with a childhood where they will receive the care and attention they need.

The house is built. If you wish to sponsor the children, please donate directly to Neema Village (click on this link).

Day-to-day management of Neema House

The founders and Executive Directors are Michael and Dorris Fortson, who are retired volunteers and do not take a salary for their work with Neema.

As author David Platt says, “When you hold an abandoned baby in your arms, everything changes.”

Started building

RAW participants are working hard to finish the center

View from Neema village

our Mission:

Rescue abandoned, orphaned and at-risk babies
Reuniting children with extended families and promoting adoptions
Restoring hope to women through education, business opportunities, parenting skills and spiritual guidance
Renewing dignity to AIDS widows

Did you know?

Children south of Sahara has the highest mortality rate before 5 years of age in the world (UNICEF*).

There are 53 million children living without parents in Sub-Sahara Africa (UNICEF*).
Tanzania has a population of 57 million
There are 3 100 000 estimated orphans in Tanzania (UNICEF 2013), 1 300 000 of those is estimated to be due to HIV/AIDS
In 2015, a UNICEF study reported more than 100 000 children did not live past the age of 5 in Tanzania. 70% were infants

Angel and Angelous

Twins. Both parents are dead. They have an aunt who can not take care of them, but will not allow for them to be adopted.

Elesha

Born with Beals syndrome, a rare hereditary disease. It is unlikely that Elesha ever will be adopted. Returning to the Maasai-village that he comes from is unfortunately not an option.

Malikia

Julius´s twin. Malikia is blind. The mother died during child birth and their father has abandoned them. Their grandmother can not take care of them, but will not allow for them to be adopted.

Julius

Malikia´s twin. The mother died during child birth and their father has abandoned them. The grandmother can not take care of them, but will not allow for them to be adopted.

Frankie

Born in a Maasai village. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Life in a Maasai village is to tough for a fragile boy like Frankie, therefor he can not return home.

Gloria

Abandoned by her mother and father. They left her with the grandmother who could not care for her. Unfortunately the grandmother will not allow for Gloria to be adopted.

Joyce

Her mother died of tuberculosis. Her father is very poor. Like many men in Tanzania, he works away from home. He returns to Tanzania approximately one month a year.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN FUNDRAISING OR DONATING TO HELP US RUN UCARE FAMILY HOME?

We would love to hear from you. Send us a message.

Would you like to hear more about what it´s like to visit Neema House? Our friend and talented travel-writer Rhiannon Stevie has written about her first experience at Neema House.