"It takes a whole village to raise a child." Our mission, as we embark on further research is in creating a community-based model of living.

With a strong team forming and more hands on deck, Worldwide Orphanage Relief Coalition will be journeying back to Uganda and Sierra Leone for a second research trip more extensively working on qualitative research while keeping steady inventory of quantitative research from both the community members we will be working with, our partners on ground and our team members experiences perspectives and observations. WORC will be bringing a research staff of 15-20, divided into 4 teams to aid in getting all the research we need to be the most effective in our vision of creating our first
Children's Community Centers (CCC):

The Children's Community Center Initiative (CCC) is the future of WORC. The CCC Initiative is largely in development, but the well researched program has great promise for connecting the benifits of WORC to the sustainable growth of entire communities. WORC hopes to begin implementing the CCC agenda by 2015 to address the specific needs of individual communities and provide the physical spaces in which community organizing can occur. Unlike other WORC programs which have a specific focus, the CCC Iniative will bring together the broadest of WORC’s goals to provide physical spaces, community development and sustainable sources of income.

Sustainable methods of health and education can be used as means of empowerment and tangible growth for that surrounding communities, despite larger social, cultural, and political detriments that orphanages face. WORC strongly believes that small-scale sustainability practices are possible within communities of children. The ultimate goal of the CCC Initiative is to build community spaces where children are supported and the resilience of the surrounding community is rewarded through economic development made possible by the presence of the orphanage.

The trip will be 8 weeks long.
Uganda- June 15th- July15th
Sierra Leone- July 16th- August 6th

Uganda

Shine of Hope Orphanage is a project of Luhwahwa Youth Development Foundation (LUYODEFO), a community based organization in Kasese district in the Rwenzori region of Western Uganda in Africa. LUYODEFO was founded in 2000 to empower women, youth, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), terminally (chronically) ill patients and their families to lead sustainable livelihoods. Shine of Hope Orphanage aims to protect and restore the basic rights of children, and is dedicated to providing all residential, physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of all Ugandan youth “missing a humane childhood." As no physical structure has been built yet, WORC proudly partners with LUYODEFO to ensure that the humanitarian needs of these children are met.

The Shine of Hope project is in the heart of WORC's research. As our primary community development site, there is much WORC yet to be done.

Sierra Leone

Founded in 1999 in the tragic aftermath of a brutal war, No More Tears Orphanage Home (NMT) has become home to dozens of children. Once only caring for three children, NMT is now the home for well over 85 children in three different structures of Kamakwie, Sierra Leone. With a combination of both younger kids and older teenagers, strong relationships are difficult to avoid. Isolated deep in the north bush-land of this lush country, this trip is very much rooted in the connectedness to our fellow brothers and sisters.

As one of WORC's primary community development sites, this summer trip will still be heavily research-based. The WORC board will be forming teams of volunteers who are interested and willing to join the WORC Board in the secondary research phase. From active community engagement, thorough demographic research, and the development of future WORC projects.