What is the "Village of Hope?"

There's been some confusion over what the "village" I talk about is.
When I say I've spent the evening in the village I don't mean a typical village, it is a project run by the Australian charity HopeBuilders - the Village of Hope.

It began in 2009, where a plot of 4 acres of land was bought. There's an admin building with some rooms used as offices tor the running of the village, There's a small farm at the bottom with chickens, cows etc. Then 8 homes (so far, 14 will be the total) have been built over time by teams of volunteers to house 8 orphans and a house mother - in most cases this is a widow. From what I gather the children are brought from slums each time a new home has been built.

Paired houses: dinner time 7&8

The homes provide an opportunity for the kids to grow up in as close to a family type environment as possible - I think it's brilliant, everyone acts like brothers and sisters and they are all so happy and grateful for the new life they have been given.

Most of the children go to the nearby primary school Jinja Christian primary school (which I help teach at on Thursdays, so it's nice to see so many of them in the classes too) some go to Hope Community High School and so are very good at English and all subjects work them very hard.

If kids at home think school is a bore they need to try school here. It starts and finishes earlier and later than UK school!

A few of the younger children go to pre school and then the very young ones stay with the mamas in the village (like Jackson and John - in lots of recent photos)

The houses are in pairs and face inwards so the mamas are paired up and take turns cooking. The kids work hard after school too, hand washing their clothes, doing homework, helping with cooking, using an axe to chop wood for cooking etc.

So when I say I've spent the afternoon/evening in the village, its in this compound. I love how in such a small space of time I've got to know them so well, its a lovely feeling walking through the gate and them all saying hi.

I love how friendly and loving they are, always cuddling or wanting to hold hands or be carried. SO yeah, I just wanted to clear the confusion, I'm not just popping into the local village. It's not written on my little timetable but this place is the main reason I came and I spent most of my free time here. The kids have got all sorts of backgrounds, some unimaginable stuff, but to see the change and transformation of their lives now they are here and how happy they are is amazing,