At the age of fourteen, Rickson lost his mother to HIV, leaving him as an orphan, along with his three younger siblings. With no other family to turn to, their only hope for food and a future was their grandfather and grandmother.
Rickson’s grandparents loved their grandkids but caring for them would put a heavy burden on their shoulders. The little produce from their garden was barely enough to sustain them, let alone four growing kids and their education. To make things harder, Rickson and his siblings became orphans at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though Rickson’s grandparents knew they would struggle to care for their grandkids’ needs, they couldn’t let them live on the streets, completely alone and vulnerable to predators.
The Power of Breeding Rabbits and Pigs
The pastor of one of Bright Hope’s partner churches heard of the family’s plight and encouraged them to take the kids in. He also offered support and hope to Rickson’s grandparents. They felt empowered and took all the kids into their home. The pastor connected them to one of Bright Hope’s programs and loaned the family a set of piglets. In time, they will use the piglets for food and to supplement the family income.
In addition, Rickson became a beneficiary of the rabbit breeding program, which kickstarted transformation in his family. The rabbits multiplied at an astonishing rate—from two to a thriving colony of one hundred.
As time has passed, the multiplying rabbits have provided a steady source of income. Now, Rickson’s grandparents can meet their grandkids’ needs. The money they made from the rabbit sales not only fed them well but also allowed Rickson to pay for all his siblings to attend school.
These orphans were saved from the streets and were helped in a holistic way due to the church helping their grandparents to have a vision and way to feed and educate them all. The income from both projects will help feed and keep Rickson and his siblings in school and pay for emergency medical needs for the family. Truly, they have received sustainable hope for today, tomorrow, and eternity.
You Can Help an Orphan Find Hope
It can be overwhelming to realize that millions of orphans feel trapped in hunger and hopelessness. Remember that you can help orphans and families follow the path out of poverty and into a hope-filled future.
