Home of Hope clocks 20 years

Home for orphans and vulnerable children, Home of Hope (HOH), on Saturday celebrated its 20th anniversary at its centre in Mchinji.

To mark the celebrations, HOH unveiled a pillar which they have named Ebenezer.

HOH founder, the Reverend Thomas Chipeta said they named the pillar after a holy Bible verse, 1 Samuel 7: 21 which says, “Until today God has helped.”

Speaking during the event, the founder said he was inspired to open the centre because he became an orphan at a young age.  He said God showed him a vision in which he built an orphanage to help vulnerable children.

Chipeta said: “I didn’t even have money, but I knew God would provide the resources. I built this home on a foundation of faith.”

HOH also has a clinic and a school that offers nursery, primary and secondary education.

Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development director of administration Timpuza Mwansambo said government is supporting HOH by providing professionals to help at the schools and the clinic.

“If these children did not come here, who knows what evils they would be exposed to? As a government we will help them in any way we can.”

One of the children, Rose Mulenga, said she has been at the centre since she was born and now the home is supporting her at Namitete Technical College.

HOH currently looks after 650 children.

Home of Hope is the orphanage from where pop music star Madonna adopted her first child from Malawi, David Banda.