Jamaa Letu Orphanage
In the late 1990s, the Pacific Northwest Conference established a task force called Hope for the Children of Africa. Together with churches in the Congo and through a partnership with the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church, we have built and continued to support 2 orphanages in Lubumbashi. The orphanages are called Jamaa Letu, which means “our family” in Swahili. The girl’s orphanage can house 60 girls and the boy’s orphanage can house 25-30 boys.
Our church sponsors 11 children per year at approximately $493 each ($5423 total per year). We typically raise these funds through Advent Noisy Offering, collecting spare change and bills and checks. Every year since 2017, we have also covered the full cost of a year of tuition and living expenses for one college student, raising an additional $4000 per year. The cost has risen to $5000. We are proud of the graduates and all they are able to accomplish.
Our orphanages commit to helping these children make a successful transition to adulthood by helping them through their college years. Jamaa Letu orphans have a 95-99% passing rate for college qualifying exams. These students have gone on to support community agriculture, English learning programs, nursing and midwifery, banking and tourism. They are supporting their families and many are giving back to the orphanage family.
A challenge- Kate's Video Challenge
Kate Allison, a member of our church, supports an additional college student, and encourages people to consider doing the same. Might your small group choose to pool your monies? Perhaps a group of families could each teach their kids some finance lessons by raising funds in some way and celebrating when you have the $5000 needed? Because our orphanage is well-run with high standards and plenty of love, the need to sponsor children into adulthood for higher education will only grow.
If you want to commit to sponsoring a college student at $5000 per year, please talk to the pastor, or Kate, or contact the church office. We think it is easiest to submit a clearly marked check to our church finance secretary which is sent on to the conference for disbursement, but you can choose to go directly through the Jamaa Letu education website as well. www.pnwumc.org/hfca/
In the late 1990s, the Pacific Northwest Conference established a task force called Hope for the Children of Africa. Together with churches in the Congo and through a partnership with the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church, we have built and continued to support 2 orphanages in Lubumbashi. The orphanages are called Jamaa Letu, which means “our family” in Swahili. The girl’s orphanage can house 60 girls and the boy’s orphanage can house 25-30 boys.
Our church sponsors 11 children per year at approximately $493 each ($5423 total per year). We typically raise these funds through Advent Noisy Offering, collecting spare change and bills and checks. Every year since 2017, we have also covered the full cost of a year of tuition and living expenses for one college student, raising an additional $4000 per year. The cost has risen to $5000. We are proud of the graduates and all they are able to accomplish.
Our orphanages commit to helping these children make a successful transition to adulthood by helping them through their college years. Jamaa Letu orphans have a 95-99% passing rate for college qualifying exams. These students have gone on to support community agriculture, English learning programs, nursing and midwifery, banking and tourism. They are supporting their families and many are giving back to the orphanage family.
A challenge- Kate's Video Challenge
Kate Allison, a member of our church, supports an additional college student, and encourages people to consider doing the same. Might your small group choose to pool your monies? Perhaps a group of families could each teach their kids some finance lessons by raising funds in some way and celebrating when you have the $5000 needed? Because our orphanage is well-run with high standards and plenty of love, the need to sponsor children into adulthood for higher education will only grow.
If you want to commit to sponsoring a college student at $5000 per year, please talk to the pastor, or Kate, or contact the church office. We think it is easiest to submit a clearly marked check to our church finance secretary which is sent on to the conference for disbursement, but you can choose to go directly through the Jamaa Letu education website as well. www.pnwumc.org/hfca/
