Who We Are
When Jesus saw the multitudes of hurting people all around Him, the Scriptures say “He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." (Matthew 9:36, KJV)
During a missionary field trip to Togo in 2008, Koffi Klu and Komi Klu, the founders of Grace Orphanage, were deeply touched by the suffering of the orphans of Togo. Upon their return to the United States, they started the Children Sponsoring Program (CSP) under the patronage of Middle Smithfield Presbyterian Church in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
Our vision is to provide equal opportunity to the orphans and the most vulnerable children by building an orphanage where both the physical and spiritual needs of the orphans will be met in the name of our Lord Jesus. We will help the orphans and most vulnerable children achieve their God-given potential.
Grace Orphanage is dedicated to helping orphans and other socially vulnerable children in Togo, West Africa, in pursuing quality education and becoming responsible and productive citizens.
We are committed to make a long term investment in the future for the orphans. Grace Orphanage will strive to prepare the orphans and vulnerable children to be self sufficient and become responsible citizens through academic and vocational training, while giving them a strong foundation in the Christian faith.
Grace Orphanage is part of Blessings on Africa, Inc., a U.S-based non profit organization committed to fighting poverty in Africa. Grace Orphanage provides a holistic support to orphans and vulnerable children including school uniform, tuition, housing, health care, counseling, and training.
Root causes of the orphans crisis in West Africa
The orphans’ crisis in West Africa is encircled by its root causes: HIV/AIDS, war, poverty, diseases (malaria for instance), famine, high rates of death in pregnancy and childbirth natural disasters (drought, flooding, environmental degradation etc.).
HIV/AIDS is the fastest growing cause of the orphanage crisis in West Africa. According to UNICEF, the worldwide orphan population under age 15 is projected to reach 106 million by 2010. 25 million of these will be orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. Most of the 25 million will be from Africa where already more than 50% of the orphanage causes are due to AIDS.
Most AIDS Orphans in Africa end up in a handful of situations:
Living with extended family members or friends:
Historically this is how orphans were cared for in most African nations. Unfortunately, with the increasing AIDS epidemic families are being overwhelmed. There simply are not enough relatives that are capable of caring for all the orphans. Extended relatives are often unable to afford school fees/uniforms, basic medical care and in some instances food for these orphans. Often these children then end up as Street Children.
Street Children:
There are many street children in most big cities in West Africa. These children do whatever they can to survive from day today.
Adoption:
In some African languages there is no word for adoption. It is a new concept. There are still not enough adoptive families in West African countries to take in all the AIDS orphans.
Children Run Households:
In many areas it is not uncommon to come across families where both parents have died and the oldest sibling is left trying to raise and provide for their siblings. In some instance this means a 13 year old trying to care for her younger siblings. In these situations there is not much a 13 year old can do to make money. These children often are forced into the streets to sell their bodies, to feed their siblings and themselves. The oldest sibling often then contracts HIV themselves and the cycle continues.
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