This is part of a series of articles, here at African Christian, that profile African Churches that are working to fight poverty in Africa. We believe the hope of Africa is the local church and prayer for more leaders and churches to be raised up who will lead the way in Africa and world in showcasing how local churches and care for and alleviate local poverty.
We’d love to hear the story of how your church is working to end poverty in your community – Make a comment below or email us your thoughts.
Adullam Orphanage
When one reads about Obuasi, and the rich history and present affluence of this Ghanaian town, one does not relate it with poverty and suffering especially of the young children. The picture created is one of very rich gold producing area, rich in gold deposits and a high per capita income. Poverty in Africa has a paradoxical face when it comes to this rich town with the very poor blending with the very rich. Pastor Louise Timothy based in Ghana took a keen interest of the suffering children of the Obuasi area and the rest of Ghana and some from Liberia.
Adullam Orphanage
This is one of the only four registered orphanages in Ghana and the only one in Obuasi. The orphanage was founded in 1996 by Australian born Pastor Louise and Drew Timothy as a registered non-governmental organization. The story of the starting of the home is simple and touching, the home was started by Loise Timothy who was living with her husband employed by an Australian company working in Ghana. Moved by the poverty and the suffering she saw, she decided to intervene to help the children who were in desperate need of basic necessities. The poverty in Africa, spurred her into action when on one occasion, a woman offered Louise, her last born child for Louise to take with her to Australia.
Louise searched for an orphanage that could offer her assistance in the course of the week, but she was not able to find an orphanage in Obuasi or the district near. Louise met with many of the people in the locality and she learnt about the problems that widows find themselves in, so she started assisting them, one or two at a go, assisting them set up small business, such as buying and selling tomatoes, peppers, or clothes. She helped them keep a basic money book so they could make sure they were earning more than they were spending, and Louise and Drew took care of the medical needs of their children. Louise rented a house for the widows to live in, and donations of beds, blankets, etc for the house. When the orphaned and abandoned children started coming in, the widows looked after them as their children.
The orphanage today has 165 children, providing them with food, clothes,a good place to sleep, education, and medical care. Over the years, donations have come in to help fund and supply the orphanage in its fight against poverty in Ghana.
The programs
Basic care- The orphanage offers shelter to over 165 children under its care. Apart from shelter these children are also fed at the center and their educational needs addresses. The orphanage has a resident nurse who takes care of the medical needs of the children at the orphanage.
Special education– The orphanage offers special education to deaf orphaned children so as to empower to face life more confidently.
Support for widows– The orphanage offers training on business skills and entrepreneurship to widowed women and assists the women and their children during the training and during the start up of their small businesses. The widows are offered shelter, food and other basic needs during this period.
The Adullam orphanage examplifies the initiative of a pastor and his wife in taking the war against poverty in Africa one person at a time.
More information or to contact the church – CLICK HERE