The AIDS epidemic in combination with wars, disease, and starvation in Africa have left millions of children without parents. In fact, UNICEF estimates that there are more than 52 million orphans in Africa. Some of these orphaned children are able to live with grandparents or other family members but other children are not so fortunate.
The International Children’s Fund (ICF) was created more than 40 years ago with the singular goal of helping desperately poor children. Our objective has always been to help these children survive, by providing them food and shelter, and then prosper, by providing them access to the education and training to help lift them out of poverty. One most important humanitarian programs is supporting the construction and operation of orphanages. Currently ICF supports 8 orphanages in Africa and India.
Creating Environments Where Orphaned Children Thrive
ICF provides a safe, happy, healthy environment for orphans to live and to gain the education and skills to become productive adults.
One of our partners, Pastor Ralph Gelego grew up in Monrovia, Liberia. After fleeing to Ghana during the Liberian Civil War, Ralph returned to Monrovia to provide aid to the desperately poor children that were orphaned by the war. With financial support from ICF, Ralph founded the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) mission in 1997. The mission initially consisted of a small orphanage which provided food, shelter, and limited education. From those humble beginnings, MBK has grown to a 10-acre complex containing an orphanage, a primary school, a secondary school, a vocational school, and a library among other facilities. MBK currently houses more than 65 orphans and provides food, education, and other services to many more.
The Kingdom Care orphanage is located within a community with a population of approximately 100,000 of which there are an estimated 40,000 orphans.
Positive Community Impact
Just imagine the impact that MBK has had upon its community and upon all the children that it has served.
Pastor Geoffrey grew up as an orphan child in Togo. Even as he struggled for his own survival, he did everything he could to help other orphans and destitute children. In 2006, he founded the Kingdom Care Orphanage in Amakpape, Togo. With no money, he constructed his first facilities with wood and mud. The rains came and the buildings were washed away. Undaunted, he progressively built more permanent structures and even started a farming project, but many were wiped out by winds and floods. Geoffrey began working with ICF during 2019 and together we have already constructed a fishpond project and drilled a water well. These projects are making an enormous impact on the mission and the local community. During 2019, MBK held its first high school graduation ceremony.
Although the current facilities are rudimentary, Kingdom Care is providing shelter, food, and limited education to more than 150 orphans. Pastor Geoffrey is very thankful for all the support that we have provided but implores us for more. The need is so great, and the resources are so limited.
Supporting Our Mission
Regular giving helps us support our missions to build, maintain, and operate orphanages as well as other programs promoting sustainable improvements in the lives of desperately poor children and their families. We call these donors Hope Ambassadors because they help ICF to provide hope to those who truly face life and death needs in Africa and India. Please consider becoming a Hope Ambassador. I encourage you to visit our website www.icfaid.org or call our office at 920-729-5721 to learn about this important program.
Please know that every gift, no matter how large or small, is an answer to our prayers and an investment in the life of a child. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.
Thank you and God Bless,
Dr. David Bruenning
Founder/Int’l Director
Fund the forces helping meet the needs.