Ministry Projects
“The mandate given to Orphan to Heir, and thus the reason for our existence, was to support the Church in Mpolonjeni and to equip it to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their community.”
— Dr. Jennifer Wayer —
Founder of Orphan To Heir
GOAL 1
MENTAL HEALTH / TRAUMA COUNSELING CENTER
We believe the most critical component of our ministry is the healing from the psychological and emotional scars left by traumatic events. The orphans that we aim to help have endured unimaginable circumstances, including grief, pain, abuse, fear, and extreme scarcity. Addressing the complexities of mental health is foundational for lasting, sustainable change.
To this end, we are committed to teaching the principles of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) to the adult members of the community who have daily influence on the lives of its children. This holistic approach— surrounding the child with teachers, mentors, tutors, and spiritual leaders trained inTBRI— has proven successful in schools and foster care systems across the United States. Our Hope Center will serve as a hub for training adult care-givers, providing professional psychological counseling services, and hosting TBRI camps for children to facilitate continued healing. These initiatives are foundational to our strategy for healing deep trauma scars and to equipping families to foster and adopt orphans within their community, transforming lives and offering hope for the future.
GOAL 2
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT / PASTORAL CARE PROGRAMS
Rural communities in Eswatini often lack access to the technology utilized in modern educational systems, creating significant barriers to learning and personal growth. Training and equipping church leaders with quality curriculum has traditionally required bringing educators and Bible teachers to Mpolonjeni for in-person classroom learning—a process fraught with logistical challenges.
With the completion our new Hope Center, local pastors and community leaders now have a secure, comfortable facility that provides protection from inclement weather and a dedicated space for meeting, learning, and growing in their calling. Church and community members now have access to classroom space for ongoing biblical education, leadership development, and spiritual growth.
In partnership with Judea Harvest NGO, we have also introduced technology and software to enhance biblical education and evangelistic outreach, including tools like the Jesus Film. The Mpolonjeni Hope Center is now a hub for community-wide leadership meetings, conferences, mentorship programs, and spiritual counseling.
We believe that fostering unity among the various Christian denominations within the community is critical. A unified body of Christ is essential for effective evangelism and for achieving the ultimate goal of placing orphans in loving homes, where they can thrive in both faith and family.
GOAL 3
Crisis Pregnancy and Family Support Center
Teenage pregnancy is a significant challenge in Mpolonjeni, where teenage girls are often devalued and stigmatized by cultural norms. Many young mothers are expelled from their homes and alienated from their families, leaving them vulnerable and unsupported. As a result, illegal abortions are alarmingly common, often putting the lives of these young mothers at grave risk. Additionally, it is estimated that 80% of graduating high school students in Eswatini are HIV-positive due to early and unprotected sexual activity.
Orphan to Heir seeks to address this crisis by offering crisis pregnancy counseling, abstinence education, and referrals for medical care and other social services. Through education, mentorship, and counseling, we aim to empower young women to make wise choices for themselves and their children. We believe that the cycle of unplanned teenage pregnancy and cultural ostracism can and must be broken.
This branch of our ministry is crucial to ensuring the successful placement of female orphans into adoptive family homes, providing them with the support and opportunities they need to build a brighter future.
GOAL 4
Economic Development and Skills Training Center
For students who manage to graduate from high school, very few have the resources or opportunities to pursue higher education. For many children, formal education ends before they achieve proficiency in basic skills like reading. To address this gap, Orphan to Heir has partnered with Potter and Clay (P&C) ministry to provide vocational training for youth and young adults.
Our newly constructed Hope Center serves as a dedicated space for vocational skills training in areas such as plumbing, electrical, brick making, mechanic, soap and candle making, sewing, hairstyling, and farming and livestock management. This branch of our ministry will also oversee financial and entrepreneurial business classes, as well as microloan projects to help young entrepreneurs launch their small businesses successfully.
In partnership with The International Literacy Center in Jacksonville, Florida, we will also offer English literacy programs for both adults and children. English proficiency is essential for success in the business world, as most commerce is conducted in English. Furthermore, we hope to provide after-school tutoring in core subjects for secondary school students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed academically and professionally.