Emeka's House Orphanage
Let's do something beautiful for God
Faith & Family
Doing small things with great love...
This video shows how we found the kids in 2020 and today after minimal donations. It's incredible how so little can do so much!
A typical day in the life of the orphanage
~ By Sister JaneFrances
There are eleven children and teenagers under my care, each with different level of physical, psychological, and mental disability. Breakfast preparation begins in the middle of the night to allow for an easier morning. In the morning, some of the children wake up by themselves while others need to be woken up. I bring each of them to the bathroom, then they are taken outside to the porch. While volunteers help them to eat their breakfast, I clean their rooms. Breakfast and bath time takes many hours. For instance, four among them can eat by themselves while we assist the others. After breakfast and bath, there are no toys, recreational materials or television to watch so they are taken back to their rooms so I can wash their clothes and prepare their lunch. Lunch is ready by 1:30. At that time, the sisters eat with the kids. If there is fruit for a treat, we have that too. After lunch, some of them nap while others remain in their rooms. Depending on what we will have for dinner determines whether or not I will be able to take a nap. Sometimes I can sleep a little, other times I will immediately begin to prepare their dinner. We refresh them with evening prayer and the Rosary then they eat their dinner. After dinner, we retire for the evening. The nights can be long for me as some of the orphans wake up throughout the night with crying or other problems. In the morning we begin our day again.
Building the orphanage in Abakaliki, Nigeria
Ebonyi State is in southeastern Nigeria
It is inhabited and populated primarily by the Igbo people with the city of Abakaliki as its capital and largest city.
Ebonyi is primarily an agricultural region. It is a leading producer of rice, yam, potatoes, maize, beans, and cassava, and have a notable basket market in Nigeria.Ebonyi has thirteen local government areas.
The property and proposed home design
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Steady Progress Wins the Day
Why is it called Emeka's house?
A personal story
Emeka my cousin, was born blind. As a child, he sat abandoned beside the fireplace, mostly on ashes. Emeka's twin sister looked different, apparently received much better treatment. The parents did not seem to find Emeka worthy of the same love as their other children because of Emeka's disabilities. Emeka rarely had anyone to talk to. He was lonely and mostly unkempt. Unfortunately, the system in Nigeria is not conducive to draw the attention of Child Protective Services. He had no one to speak for him. Children like Emeka need our help. Let's build in Emeka's memory.
-Fr. Vin
Meet the Kids
Through the generous donations of kind and generous souls of the Family Apostolate, a plot of land was purchased in Abakaliki. Equivalent to 2+ U.S. acres, it will allow for the building of a generous sized orphanage, vegetable gardens, and plenty of room for the kids and disabled adults to play and exercise.
Some of the kids playing on the property where their house is to be built.
Trinitas
This is Trinitas. She is about 3 to 4 years old. She was abandoned by her mother at the hospital there is no trace of her family. She has hydrocephalus and psychological imbalances.
Joseph
This is Joseph. He is about 7 to 8 years of age and is autistic. He can neither sit nor stand. Joseph was abandoned in the hospital by his mother.
Emmanuelle
This is Emmanuelle. She is about 8 to 9 years of age. She was starved, locked up and maltreated by her family. They eventually threw her out of the house which broke her hips. She is physically and psychologically challenged.
Osawese
This is Osawese (Thank God). He is about 18 to 19 years and was picked up in the streets by the Nigerian social welfare. He is epileptic and psychologically challenged. There is no trace of his family. The only thing he is able to do by himself is eat.
Susan
This is Susan. She is about 18 to 19 years of age and is mentally challenged. Apart from feeding herself, she cannot do anything else. She has no family and was picked up from the streets.
Clinton
This is Clinton. He is about 15 to 16 years old. There is no trace of his family. Clinton is severely epileptic and mentally disabled. He was picked up on street by the Nigerian police.
Marieline
This is Marieline. She is about 6 to 7 years of age with no trace of her family. She was found abandoned in the streets. She is physically and mentally challenged and can't walk.
Michael
This is Michael and he is about 9 to 10 years old. He was rescued from his mentally ill mother. He is mentally challenged and epileptic
Anthony is a toddler. His mother loved him but was unable to care for his extreme special needs due to her own poverty. She left him in the sister's care with a loving note.
Anthony