Help Save the Fatima Cottage Orphanage!
The Fatima Cottage Orphanage must be repaired and refurbished! This is an urgent appeal for the rehabilitation of Fatima Cottage Orphanage Mission, the oldest private orphanage in Liberia! Prior to the Civil War in 1990, the orphanage was sustained by private local donors and partial government aid. During the war, most of the orphans and Rev. Young, the founder, were captured by rebels and held as hostages and human shields. The orphanage campus was burned and left in total disrepair. After the end of the war, Rev. Young returned to the decimated campus and tried to rebuild her ministry to care for orphans. Unfortunately, in post-war Liberia, donors have been very few and far between. Recently, Rev. Young has been given an ultimatum by the ministry of Health and Social Welfare to repair the dormitories. Therefore, to urgently support Fatima, we are seeking humanitarian support to provide 133 beds and urgently needed repairs.
History: Rev. Victoria N.B. Young
(affectionately called “Mother Vic” or “Mom”) is a Liberian national and
the widow of the late Christopher J. Young, a former Police Officer
in Liberia.
On November 4, 1970, she received
her calling through the inspiration of the Almighty God to serve as a
missionary for the orphaned and abandoned children in Chocolate City, Gardnerville, and
Montserrado County, Liberia. Upon her
calling, Rev. Young immediately began her search for orphaned and abandoned
children in the surrounding areas and housed them in her home. She cleared her 1.5 acres of land
in Chocolate City and started the construction of her first dormitory for the
children. On July 31, 1974, the late
President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr. William Tolbert dedicated the
Mother Young's facility as the first private orphanage home in Liberia.
After the dedication, Rev. Young appealed
for financial assistance and continued to develop the first mission on the Chocolate City site with the construction of a
school building, four depilatories, a chapel and a clinic. It had the capacity
to house approximately 120 to 150 children. This school and dormitories soon
became overcrowded as orphans and abandoned children were being sent to this
only private orphanage in the county.
Therefore, Rev. Young purchased 250 acres of land on the border area of
Sass Town, Grand Kru County and developed another orphanage mission that almost
immediately filled with 151 children. This large
land area provides farm land that is currently used to grow vegetables for the children. With the growing influx of children, Rev. Young acquired 11.5 acres of land in the Township of Diggsville, Montserrado
County for the relocation of the children. When the relocation occurred, there were 341 children moved to
the Diggsville site.
When the first political
revolution occurred in Liberia in 1980 and Liberia became a country under
military rule, Rev. Young appealed to that military government for the
protection of the children. The military government approved and decreed the
orphanage be accorded the same non-government, not for profit organization for
the benefit of the Liberian children in need and orphans.
For many years, organizations
such as World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse and Mercy Ships provided assistance in
various ways to the orphanage. However,
those efforts have been redirected to other places around the world. Still, Rev. Young’s days are filled with
caring for the most helpless…children…orphans whose only hope is the elderly
woman who has dedicated her life to them.
Rev. Young is now 77 years old and she is in dire need of
assistance. This plea goes out to any
who will help.
Current Mandate: Liberia, in an effort to upgrade
conditions for the orphans, has declared it necessary for the orphanage to
provide more bedding for the children.
Currently, many children share beds and others sleep on the floors. The buildings are in desperate need of repair
and yet, for now, these floors and hole-ridden ceilings provide the only
shelter to these children.
Our goal with this initial fund-raiser is
to provide enough money to purchase beds, blankets and other necessities that
will keep the doors open. Otherwise, the
orphanage will be closed and the children will be turned out. Will you help? The need is desperate!
Our sincerest thanks!
What We Need & What You Get
The Campaign amount has been set at $20,000 to provide 133 beds, bedding, food and other necessities to keep the orphanage open. All funds received will be used specifically for this purpose. We have a trustee from Liberia located here in the US who will be responsible for the oversight and distribution of the funds. Although the orphanage is designated as a not-for-profit by the Liberian government, we have not had time or funding to set up a non-profit status in the US. We will be doing that after the first of the year.
Our perks are few....a hand-written letter from an orphan or a photo of the renovations as they are realized. However, your main perk comes from the knowledge that you have impacted the lives of these helpless ones.
The Impact
How can we describe the impact your contribution will have? The obvious is that this facility and its mission will continue to care for and build lives in Liberia. However, this effort will also lead to a larger effort that will bring much needed assistance in food and water procurement, in educational supplies, in trade training and in other programs that will sustain and grow the area. This first campaign will provide the basic necessities of life and will keep the doors open!
Other Ways You Can Help
First and foremost, please pray for the Fatima Orphanage and the people who work every day with these children.
Second, donate any amount. Every dollar, every penny will help!
Third, tell others about this campaign by using the tools provided by Indiegogo. Like us on Facebook. Share us on LinkedIn and on Twitter. Tell your churches or your groups about our need.
Fourth, go! We need groups to go and to help. Senator Vivian Cherue, Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, has stated that any groups willing to come and to help will be welcomed into their country! Perhaps your organization is in need of a mission project. This would be a great one! Build or repair buildings, provide medical or dental care, teach....whatever you are led to do to help!