Dedicated Global Care Africa volunteers have built an orphanage and purchased land in Africa, now they’re seeking help for their next big project – building a school.
Over the last 10 years the committee, currently made up of seven Bundaberg Region residents, have fundraised tirelessly to get to this point and to ensure the children at the orphanage receive the care and living essentials they need.
At an upcoming gala dinner event, Global Care Africa hopes to raise $50,000 for a school and accommodation for four teachers.
Global Care Africa’s David Ballard said it was a cause well worth supporting.
“We have built the most amazing orphanage there over the last 10 years,” David said.
“We have 34 children there currently.
“They all go to private schools because we want them to have a quality education.
“We want to build our own school because we not only want to give them a quality education, we want to give a quality education to all the children in the neighbourhood.”
Global Care Africa's volunteers have also helped to build houses in the country with their inspiration for the orphanage coming from local woman, “Mama” Caroline Achom.
Caroline is 34 years old and grew up as an orphan.
Her father died when she was two years old and her mother passed away when she was nine.
Caroline lived on the streets of Kampala, surviving any way she could.
She is now “Mama” to the children living in the orphanage built by the Global Care Africa team.
“In 2019 we helped Mama Caroline Achom build a home for 50 children in Tororo, Uganda and now we are excited to focus on the school and help give hope to the future of these children through education,” David said.
“We have a saying here at Global Care Africa, we can’t help everybody, but everybody can help somebody.
“Global Care Africa have turned their life around.
“They now have a future. They now have a hope. They now have a home. They now have the greatest gift of all – love.”
The group’s fundraising efforts are truly non-stop, with the local volunteers ensuring the children at the orphanage have everything they need.
That includes 22 goats, 80 chickens, three cows, a bull and, most recently, a freshly stocked fish dam.
“It costs us a minimum of $500 a week to keep them fed and clothed,” David said.
“We started with a fundraiser in Bowral four years ago where we raised $34,000. Since then, we have not stopped fundraising.”
How you can help
The Global Care Gala Dinner will be held at Rowers on the River on Saturday, 26 March.
The event will include a three-course dinner, auction, raffles, music and more.
Tickets are $70 for adults, $35 for children (12 and under) and $600 for a table of 10.
They can be purchased online at Bundaberg Tickets or by contacting David Ballard on 0418 761 779.
