Life in Charlotte Children’s Village
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The Village is a lovely home designed by London-based architect, Studio Mash. It consists of communal rooms (a lounge, library, chapel, infirmary, office and dining areas) located around shady courtyards and small houses.
There is plenty of space for the chickens, goats, cats and dogs that live on the compound and agricultural areas where we grow fruit and vegetables for the kids.
There is a splendid playground thanks to the generosity of Gaby and Jorge Espinosa.
The children are cared for by ‘mamas’ on a day-to-day basis. Cooking is done on traditional wood tins and water comes from a bore hole. Solar power provides electricity.
We have an infirmary in the Village that’s well stocked with medicines and vitamins. We employ a full-time nurse and vaccinate the children against tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles and polio.
The compound is very peaceful, punctuated by laughing children. There is a sense of close community. Children and staff get together in the evening for sessions of dancing, drumming and singing under the stars. Singing is either in English or Kuku (the tribal mother-tongue language for most children).
During the day, the children go to school. They also help out in the compound, gardening or helping the carers with homework or cooking.
Our older children all have aspirations. Some want to become nurses, midwives, teachers, doctors or lawyers. Others are more practical and hope to become engineers or drivers.
But they need support.
