try sleeping with a mosquito.”
St. Lawrence Home of Hope
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Is a home for neglected, traumatised and abused children who require care, protection and therapeutic intervention and development.
It has a dual purpose: 1. A rehabilitation centre where we offer a new home and a new start for the children. 2. It is a “half-way home” where we intend to re-integrate the children back in their families, back to their “real” homes and main stream society. |
The centre was founded in 1998 by the Catholic Women’s League of Lusaka at the request of the then Archbishop of Lusaka. R.R. Medardo Mazombwe. The project was put in their hands in order to respond to the growing numbers of “street children” in Lusaka. They are in charge of advocacy, sourcing funds, developing infrastructure and taking care of the running costs. From its inception the Catholic Parish of Good Shepherd was involved in its establishment, development and running of it as it was within the boundaries of the parish. The first basic structures were built within the property of St. Lawrence Catholic Parish which, in turn, is in the hands of The Missionaries of Africa.
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Over the past 16 years we have helped hundreds of children to escape the trap of severe neglect, homelessness, physical and sexual abuse and drug addiction.
We have helped them to regain their childhood, their dreams and their hope in the future. |
WHY?
...that there are and always will be children and young people who for various reasons feel either pushed out of their family homes, feel uncomfortable to stay there or run away from home to avoid responsibility and consequences of their wrongdoings.
HOW?
Ensure lasting reintegration of children rescued from the street into main stream society by providing opportunities for education and skills training.
OUTREACH
...aims at identifying and removing from the street all „new comers” within a few days from their arrival there.
TRACING
As long as a child remains an anonymous person the possibilities to assist him with meaningful and lasting help are severely limited.
RESIDENTIAL
From admission, until after reintegration the centre is responsible for all the needs of a child: physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual.
REINTEGRATION
... is the overall goal of our work with the children and their families.
