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Liz Looks Back on the last 10 years
Looking through the website brings back a lot.jpg)
of memories for me. The children on the website are completely different from what we saw in the year 2000. Children in rusty cots with broken nails sticking out. Those children didn’t look human, they were like skeletons with a thin layer of flesh on them, just moaning, not crying. It was as if they had lost their fight, God I can tell you I was horrified. Tears would come to my eyes, a lump so big in my throat that I felt like I couldn’t breath. I felt so ashamed and angry. The stench of urine and God knows what else was so overbearing, I remember thinking how could anyone with a heart let a human being live like that.
So when ORM went into action, the orphanage didn’t know what hit it. The transformation through the years has been unbelievable. The whole orphanage was refurbished, beds, cots, bedding all burnt, walls were knocked down, new ones rebuilt, new bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, all the grounds. Now there are gardens, flowers, paths, a play park. Each child was given a name, not just girl, birthday’s recognised, they were all assessed by the ORM doctors and they now have speech therapy, physiotherapy & 24 hour medical care.
Education plays an important role in a child’s life. These poor kids had none, so ORM introduced an education plan where children learn how to read and write, some have gone on to complete computer courses and received their diplomas which they are very proud of. They also have sport which includes basketball, gym etc and the amazing club house where the children are taught to sing and dance. It is amazing to see children with disability being so talented. There is also cooking, sewing, art etc. The transformations are unbelievable.
What was once an orphanage full of tears is now an orphanage full of laughter, one of the most beautiful sounds is their laughter, I can honestly say that it lifts my spirits. There is a lot more I could say of the wonderful things that happen there day to day. These children are unique, every child has a personality, when you are out there working as a volunteer, you get to know them quite well.
Hand on heart, I will always say a little prayer and thank God that ORM didn’t walk away, ORM gave them dignity and hope, they were treated as human beings and they got their lives back.
