Sierra Leone is a country which was ravaged by over ten years of civil war leaving a large population of children orphaned and destitute. During this time many children were taken as child soldiers, workers and girls as young as 12 years old were taken as ‘wives’. The end of the conflict has seen many of these children abandoned in inner cities unable to return home because of fear, rejection, or simply not being able to trace their way home. The impact of such childhood devastation cannot be measured and Heaven Homes has been established to bring healing, restoration, reconciliation and ‘life’ – to these ‘broken’ lives.
Heaven Homes’ key aim is to demonstrate the practical love of Christ through meeting the fundamental needs of a person spiritually, physically, socially and emotionally. To achieve this homes and learning centres are being built which will be safe, loving and secure environments within which the God-given potential of children can be nurtured.
From 2011 to 2016 Heaven Homes is implementing projects in Newton, just outside the capital Freetown. The first project is the construction of a primary school with the first students enrolled Easter 2012. Following on will be the start of the Homes construction project; single family homes with a designated house-parent and six children in each home.
Heaven Homes is led by Kippy Agyei, originally from Sierra Leone. Due to the civil war and political unrest, at the age of 13 Kippy was sent to the UK while her father was imprisoned and the rest of her family held under house arrest. Kippy was ushered into adulthood without any warning and had to learn to live without her family. Even though she was not an orphan, she could testify of knowing the pains of being orphaned – that is until she found the everlasting love of her Heavenly Father at the age of 21. The uncompromising love of God provoked her to reach out to children in Sierra Leone, to restore them to that place of ‘becoming a child’.
Homes
These will care for vulnerable children (not necessarily orphans), with the cooperation of the State and the Local Community. The Homes will cater for boys and girls from 0-18years of age, with an additional capacity to look after children requiring specialist care. All-inclusive care for the children will be provided, supervised by a home parent/s, with the number of children per parent allotted to ensure every child has adequate supervision, interaction and care. Where a child with identified special needs is placed within one of the Heaven Homes families, the number of children allocated to the family unit will be adjusted accordingly, to take into account the extra time and resources needed to allow for a more effective care plan.
Centres
Children Centres are to be located within the Homes Campus – a place where children can experience the joys of childhood without barriers. These Centres will be open to children between the ages of 0-18 years, and all services will be accessible to children in Heaven Homes. Centres also run basic adult education programmes, to include mother and toddler groups. The Centres will serve as an aid and relief distribution point, as well as being the hub for the social aspects of Heaven Homes and the Community served.