SUSTAINABILITY
GOAL AND COMMITMENT
“not letting grass grow under our feet”
LAMb has been growing and developing more and more strategies that will help sustain initiatives of capacity building in the countries where we have been called. These initiatives will build the knowledge and skills needed for the persons working with families in crisis, orphans and vulnerable children who have been exploited or suffered from violence, abuse and/or neglect.
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK HERE
Over the course of the last few years, we have seen the following:
India: Helping to build a national training center that is focused on helping children who have experienced trauma, such as child abuse, violence, and sexual exploitation. Presently within the Child Healing Center, we have 10 trainers who are now training throughout the country of India. We are continuing to build their capacity in understanding how to work with a child who has experienced psychological trauma.
Simultaneously we are implementing a program (Training of Trainers) across India that will help in preparing Foster and Adoptive families in India for Indian children needing homes. This program is in partnership with CERI (Children’s Emergency Relief International in India – led by Ian Forber-Pratt)
Nicaragua: Slowed down by the violence in the country – but NOT stopping. We are building capacity within the country and now soon starting to train trainers and initiating a NATIONAL NICARAGUAN TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING initiative. With the work of our partners in Nicaragua, we have trained workers and team members from 7 different organizations. Working with OrphaNetwork we have seen amazing changes in how children are treated and served. OrphaNetwork feeds over 20,000 children daily through their Local Church Initiative - and with this new initiative, the impact will be massive.
NEXT STEP: Helping to develop a National Capacity Building Initiative with the OrphaNetwork Team. This project will focus on Family Based Care Initiative within the present residential system – moving step by step to family reunification as the goal. Target starting date – January 2019.
Ethiopia: With the Child Development Training and Research Center (CDTRC), we are working with 9 trainers and their director to build their capacity as an organization to serve their country in different areas of discipleship, child abuse, strengthening families and more. At this time the CDTRC has just completed a camp for over 600 youth – and this camp was crafted with Trauma Informed Strategies and Activities to reach the minds and hearts of children who came to the camps from the orphanages.
One orphanage director contacted the CDTRC after the camp and asked, “What did you do to my kids? They have returned with such positive attitudes and as such kind children, whatever you did – Thank You.”
Zimbabwe: Working with Zimbabwe Without Orphans – training 12 trainers who have been out in the country and have trained over 250 persons in Trauma Informed Care – these persons trained are representing 3500 youth in their care.
Botswana: The village of Khwai – after the devastating flood, we are in the rebuild and repair stage. We have secured a building for the education and training of the single moms project and to also use as a pre-school for their children. This building is in need of a new roof and we have a plan in place to get this done.
In addition we have hired a full time teacher to move into the village and have secured a little house for her. This is all after our project fell apart after the flooding that occurred there last year. NOW – back on track! Praise Him.
THE NEW BUILDING - UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW...
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| CHILDREN WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PRE-SCHOOL |
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| CLEANING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING |
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| CLEAN AND READY FOR RENOVATION |
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| PART OF OUR WORK CREW |
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| AND THEY WAIT - AND WANT SO TO LEARN |
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NO LONGER TO BE SENT AWAY
WE HAVE A FULL TIME TEACHER HIRED!!! |
Botswana: The senior center in Maun is nearing completion and it is the first of tow buildings. Under the direction of our board member – Bryan Richardson, this center will be a place for the marginalized seniors to come and be served with food, simple first aide, clothing and most importantly fellowship. We are now finishing the roof and will soon be bringing seniors to the center. This is part one of the building project! Our last bike-a-thon raised the funds needed to put on the roof!
South Africa: Training a new LAMb International team member who will coordinate and organize all the projects and work of LAMb in Africa. More on this later!
Kyrgyzstan: With the founding of ILDC (International Learning and Development Center) we have demonstrated commitment to Dayspring girls (diverted from orphanages to our family based care program) to find permanent families. To date we have placed the little girls into adoptive homes, returned them to safe families and have kinship care homes of permanency for our girls. Each reunification and/or adoption means a lifetime of connection for that little girl. Perhaps nothing can be more important than to know these youth will always have a place to go on holidays, someone to call when their babies are born and a connection to their heritage and history. Permanence is a child’s right.
Older youth in Kyrgyzstan – Jeremiah 29:11: Life Skill classes are ongoing in the orphanages. LAMb has tracked and supported many youth through graduation and attendance in a number of different Universities. We have youth in the “practice” apartments, known as the steps apartments. Here they get to experience living interdependently in a safe and maintained environment where they get to make decisions under the guidance of a mentor/coach. Youth are able to continue the development of their life skills toward achieving even a greater level of interdependence.
Over the years, LAMb has supported over 20 youth in higher education programs including University and college/technical school programs.
Ukraine: We have poured over 15 years into growing and developing a comprehensive approach to capacity building in Ukraine. 10 years ago we co-founded the International Leadership and Development Center (ILDC), which is the “go to” child welfare training center in the country. ILDC is instrumental in many different facets of capacity building; training, consultation to government in the areas of de-institutionalization and working with children with disabilities, church coordination for working with crisis families, adoption and foster care and changing paradigms from institutionalization to family based care. We have a team of over 40 trainers ready to deploy at any given time.
Belarus: Supporting the work of the National Adoption Center of Belarus, we are helping them with their own capacity building by training in the area of Trauma Informed Care – starting in November 2018! This is the beginning of a greater plan for Belarus and the National Adoption Center.
Romania: Supporting the movement of the Alliance for a Romania Without Orphans (ARFO)– we have just completed an initial project with them to help in developing their next steps (a strategic plan) in creating a sustainable training program across the country. We will continue to support this initiative and help them build their own internal capacity.
Ecuador: working with the Theological Seminary – developing caregivers in the are of Trauma Informed Care.
Jordan: working with those workers who are teaching refugee children and working with refugee families. This initiative is to train trainers and caregivers in Trauma Informed Care to help in bringing healing to the hearts of those who have suffered much.
Other areas of focus for LAMb at this present time: Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Thailand.
Our focus and team: We have a great team and amazing board members. Team members Kathy and Lyall Hallick have been working in India and Ethiopia. Johanna Buchman continues to coach across the globe by working on-line with our trainers who want and need additional coaching. In addition we have a large compliment of consultant experts in the different areas in which we bring teaching.
We praise Him for provision and for the strength to continue on the journey we have been called to take.
THANK YOU SPONSORS. THE STORY IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN EVEN THIS…
