Village for orphans opens
House mother Angel Njikelana, Tich Smith, MEC Human Settlements and public works Maggie Govender and head of ministry Thabani Mabuya at the door of one of the cottages.
A village built on the outskirts of Verulam for the purpose of housing orphans, has opened its doors and held its official launch.
The Lungisisa Indlela Village, (LIV) is a church, government and private sector initiative with grand plans.
Tich Smith, founder of the village, says that he picked up the baton to care for parentless children because, ‘in my Bible it does not say that the government must look after the poor, the church must.’
“LIV exists to raise the next generation of leaders in our nation. We place vulnerable, parentless children into a family environment where they receive unconditional love, spiritual discipleship, care and nurturing with the core vision to rescue a child, restore a life, raise a leader and release a star.”
Tich Smith said that according to the latest international monetary fund survey, the biggest disparity between the rich and the poor in the world is here, in SA.
“It is time for the wealthy to stretch out their hands to share with the destitute and change the face of the nation.”
Smith told the massive crowd that after fundraising here, there and everywhere, one Friday night he decided on a whim, to phone the premier of KZN Dr Zweli Mhkize.
To his amazement the premier answered and Smith said he launched into the story of LIV, the hopes, the dreams. At the end of his speech Dr Mkhize said, “You need to come and see me.”
At that meeting, Dr Mhkize said that he hadn’t understood a word that Smith had said, which is why he invited him to a meeting, and from there, grew a partnership.
The outcome of this has been massive government support and involvement, with R90 million set aside for the construction of LIV.
The village is environmentally friendly, with most of the energy needs supplied through solar energy, and gas stoves are standard.
There are already 100 children at LIV, which covers 300 hectares, with a vision to home 3 000 to 4 000 children in four or five villages and, at the head of each household there will be a mother who loves them, said Smith.
Dr Mhkize said that negotiations for more land have begun and, “If we fail to do this, we run the risk of having a whole generation of children who do not know what it is to be loved,” he said.
Tich Smith said, “If the church, government and business work together, I believe that we can put a roof over every vulnerable child’s head, give them a mother who loves them, feed and educate them to the glory of God, and the face of the nation will be changed through a generation that the world has turned its back on,” said Smith.
Contact LIV at 031-561 2800 or www.liv-village.com
