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 desire to help have endured unimaginable circumstances of grief, pain, abuse, fear, and extreme scarcity. Addressing the complexities of mental health is foundational for lasting, sustainable change. We will continue to teach the principles of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) to the adult members of the community who have daily influence in the lives of the community’s children. This holistic approach of surrounding the child with teachers, mentors, tutors, and spiritual leaders who utilize TBRI has proven successful in schools and foster care systems in cities across the United States. This new facility will not only be a place for training of adult care-givers but will also provide a location for professional psychological counseling services and TBRI camps for children to continue to heal. These are foundational components of our strategy to heal the deep scars of trauma and to equip families to foster and adopt the orphans in their community.
GOAL 2
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT / PASTORAL CARE PROGRAMS
Rural eSwatini communities cannot easily access the technology utilized in today’s educational systems. This creates a huge barrier to learning and personal growth. Training and equipping the leaders of the church with quality curriculum typically requires bringing the educators and Bible teachers to Mpolonjeni for in-person classroom learning. The challenges to this modality of teaching are many. The lack of a physical location that is secure, comfortable, and protective from inclement weather has been very challenging for this critical branch of our ministry. Our desire is to have dedicated classroom space for the ongoing education and growth of church leadership. We need a secure space where computers and technology can be kept safely. This facility would be used for community- wide church leadership meetings, conferences, mentorship, and spiritual counseling. We believe it is paramount that our presence in the community foster a unity between the various denominations of the Christian church in the community. A unified Body of Christ is necessary for the ultimate goal of evangelism and the successful placement of orphans in loving homes.
GOAL 3
Crisis Pregnancy and Family Support Center
Teenage pregnancy is prevalent in Mpolonjeni. Teenage girls are largely “unwanted” and poorly thought of by cultural definition. These young mothers are commonly kicked out of their homes and alienated from their families. It is no surprise that abortions, though illegal in eSwatini, are very prevalent and often put the young mother’s life at risk in the process. Also, it is estimated that 80% of all graduating high schools students are HIV+ due to sexual activity. Orphan to Heir would like to offer crisis pregnancy counseling, abstinence education, and referrals for medical care or other available social services. Through education, mentorship, and counseling, we will empower these young women to make good choices for themselves and their children. We believe that this cycle of unplanned teenage pregnancy and cultural ostracism can, and must be, broken. This branch of our ministry is crucial to successfully placing female orphans in adoptive family homes.
GOAL 4
Economic Development and Skills Training Center
Of the students who have the opportunity to graduate from high school, very few have the resources or influence to pursue a higher degree, and for many children, formal education will cease before the child can even read proficiently. Orphan to Heir has partnered with The Potter and Clay (P & C) ministries to offer vocational training to young graduates. Our new building will be a dedicated location for vocational skills training such as plumbing, electrical, brick making, mechanic, soap and candle making, sewing, hairstyling, and farming and livestock management. These courses will be offered on a rotating basis throughout the year. This branch of our ministry will also oversee micro-loan projects to help young entrepreneurs launch their small businesses successfully. In partnership with The International Literacy Center out of Jacksonville, FL, we will offer English literacy programs for adults and children. Speaking English is essential to success in the business world, as all commerce in eSwatini is conducted in the English language. We hope to offer after-school tutoring for core subjects for secondary school students as well.