To provide 60- 100 orphaned and vulnerable children the empowerment tools to break the cycle of poverty in one of the hardest hit areas by Ebola in Liberia.

Kakata, Liberia was an Ebola hot spot that left hundreds, if not, thousands of children orphaned and vulnerable. Neighbors, terrified of succumbing to Ebola themselves, have refused to help, which means that the bulk of the childcare now falls upon the eldest child, who has had to leave school to take care of his/her siblings. In many cases, their younger siblings have also had to give up their education. Orphaned children have become stigmatized and cast out by their communities. Extended families refuse to take care of Ebola orphans or other vulnerable children out of fear of becoming stigmatized themselves. UNICEF’s effort to reunify children back to their communities has proven to be unsuccessful as some foster families have abandoned orphans after receiving the accompanying food and non-food assistance, leaving the children to fend for themselves. The epidemic saw a spike in sexual violence towards girls and violence against children, and left orphans particularly vulnerable to abuse. (UNICEF). 

The situation in Liberia is dire but ZOE’s model can bring hopeful and effective solutions to large numbers of children efficiently. ZOE is a self-sustaining three-year fully comprehensive program, developed in Africa that empowers orphans and vulnerable children to overcome extreme poverty, become fully self-reliant and learn God’s love for them. ZOE’s approach is bold by utilizing an approach to empowerment that is locally based, comprehensive and child-led. It does this without orphanage homes and large overhead. (See attached document for full organization and programs overview).

ZOE - Kakata, Liberia will equip children in the following areas:

1.     Food security through children growing or buying a stable food supply.

2.     Animal husbandry

3.     Secure safe housing

4.     Training in health and hygiene for prevention and access to treatment.

5.     Training and capital to start businesses with a micro-grant in the first year and micro-loans in the second two years administered through the working group of children.

6.     Access to formal education or vocational training.

7.     Understanding of child rights with a supportive group and community to enforce those rights.

8.     Being a valued part of a loving, supportive group; where the children both receive and give support from and to one another, building dignity along with self-sufficiency.

9.     Understanding of the love of God in Christ, through hearing and seeing the gospel in inviting but not coercive ways.