WATCH: It takes a village to raise a child
The Ingane Yami Children’s Village in Shongweni houses 23 children that come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
IT is a dream come true for Pastor Roger Grieg of Open Skies Church and his wife, Yvonne Grieg, to see children homed in the Ingane Yami Village in Shongweni. The NPO houses 23 orphaned and vulnerable children from three years, with their eldest being 21 years.
The village is a complete society that consists of a school from Grade R to Seven, and individual houses that are each a home to six children, headed by a house mother. The team in the village includes an on-site village pastor, qualified teachers and a committed support team.
Pastor Grieg said the vision came through his wife, Yvonne, after having witnessed the effects of the HIV/Aids crisis through the life of their domestic worker, Jayne.
“God began to stir in Yvonne’s heart with the resounding question: ‘Yvonne, what about the children?’ Later that year, God connected Yvonne with Watoto Children’s Village in Uganda, which now serves as the basis of our Children’s Village model,” said Grieg.
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He said the village was launched in 2012 and has been saving children’s lives ever since. “The children we receive here come through social workers and authorities in the same line of work. Some children come in here in a devastating state; some have been abandoned and some abused. They would be traumatised, and through the help of our on-site social workers and house mothers, we are able to keep track of their recovery,” she said.
Pastor Bheki Masikane, who is the on-site pastor, said each child goes through their own journey. “We try to research as much as possible before the child comes in to stay with us – from their medical history and academic progress to their social well-being. Some are ready to start school as soon as we take them in, and some need more sessions with our social worker and more bonding time with the house mothers. We just try to make the process as natural as possible,” he said.
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Masikana said his experience in the village has been life-changing as there is always something to learn. “I have been exposed to these children’s progress from day one since they got here to their independence. The lessons I learn every day have shaped my life and thoughts so positively,” he said.
Grieg said it takes approximately R200 000 to ensure the smooth running of the village, and they are thankful to their sponsors who make it possible for them.
“We do have sponsors that are always happy to jump on board and lend a hand where they can. We also work with the Department of Social Development to register the children so they can receive their grants, and we are open to working with more sponsors to invest in young lives,” he said.
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