Abel House is our next endeavour.

As an outreach program, we do all we can to foster families with children with disabilities so they can take care of their kids at home. But there are times when one of our students is recovering from surgery or an illness, the parents are away at a funeral or preparing their gardens for planting, or other situations when the child does not have the attention he or she needs at home. Because of this, we are building a small safe haven for temporary stays.

Also, the kids in our program are starting to grow up. We are looking for income generating occupations for them, and the centre will offer them a platform for that. We are still hunting for project ideas, so if you can think of anything, feel free to share!

The site is about 6 km from Livingstonia and includes two four-bed dorms, 2 caretaker rooms, an office, storage space, indoor and outdoor kitchens, compost toilets and showers that all surround the covered courtyard that is our social, play and exercise area.

But Abel House consists of more than just stones and trees. Tryness, one of our community workers, has just received her occupational therapy diploma, and having her back on the mountain with her new wealth of knowledge has proven invaluable. To support our staff at the house, parents volunteer time to help look after the students. They will support the caretakers with feeding, cooking, bathing, cleaning, playing and exercising. Not only will this give them an opportunity to give back in a way that lies within their means, but it will teach them mechanisms that will help to take the load off at home as well.

The Abel Program’s main objective will still be its outreach work, supporting families with kids with disabilities at home.