Finally, sharing the news with the world that Evie Grace Foundation has started the journey of establishing a Therapeutic Rescue Home for street girls in Malawi is so exciting. I feel overwhelmed as it will be a long and challenging journey, but I am very content and prepared for this next step. For the last seven years, partnering with local organisations in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana has been rewarding, impactful, and life-changing. I am so grateful for everything I have learnt and experienced. Evie Grace Foundation has helped so many organisations grow, expand, and become sustainable, and now it’s our turn to make an even greater impact in the lives of children that have suffered abuse. Soon you will be hearing and seeing so much about our forever project, but first, I want to share with you the vision and main objectives of the Therapeutic Home and how we plan to ensure that our children not only survive but thrive:
Reintegration: our number one goal is reintegrating children back with their families if it is safe to do so. By breaking down the barriers of poverty and assessing why the child ran to the streets in the first place, we can empower families to support their children. The home’s primary purpose is to support, rehabilitate, and provide counselling for the children to transition back to their families.
Holistic care: for every child we care for, we will provide ongoing holistic care by considering not only their physical needs to survive but also their emotional, social, economic, and spiritual needs. Through Trauma-Informed Care, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), and Therapeutic Parenting, we want to give children a safe and nurturing environment in which they can heal from their trauma.
Self-sufficiency: within the first three years of establishing the home, we will work hard to ensure the home is self-sufficient. By digging bore-holes and having multiple water tanks, we will not have to purchase water. By utilising solar panels and solar generators, we will not have electricity bills. By planting fruit trees and yearly crops, we will be able to feed the children and staff in the home and have a surplus to sell to generate income. We will train local staff and youths in animal husbandry to boost local social and economic participation in our projects. The animals will also contribute to the biogas systems. We will build an onsite workshop where youths will gain employable skills and make products that can be sold in Malawi and worldwide. We will also develop relationships with local businesses and individuals to support the home and ensure that we do not rely on international donations.
Community Empowerment & Development: Local Malawians will be employed to run all aspects of this home and be provided with upskilling opportunities. As we grow, we will provide even more employment opportunities. We will offer placements and internships to university students and offer a range of graduate roles for young people to be able to begin their careers. Once the onsite primary school and medical clinic are built, these will be utilised by the surrounding community also. We aren’t just working to break the cycle of poverty for the children in the home but for all Malawians.
We aren’t just building a house – we are building a home. Whether a child is with us momentarily while they reintegrate with their family or arrive a day old and stay until they are a young adult, they will know they are loved and welcomed. We have some pretty huge goals, and we can’t do it alone.
That is why we invite you to join us on this journey while celebrating the highs and supporting us through the lows. Together, we can change the lives of abused children.
Please help us build a safe, transitional home for street girls in Malawi in 2021. We are currently raising money towards the construction of our KITCHEN! Please help us reach our goal.
The power of people is real, and your engagement with us has been essential to our work. Together, we have achieved so much, but there is much more to do.
To find out more about how you can support our Therapeutic Home for Girls, including our ‘Fund a Room’ program, see here.
Much love, Maddi
