Benefactor

In 2004, William Blattner from the USA was involved in the program of treatment and prevention services for persons with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria. He came with his wife Diane, who on her own devoted time to visiting orphanages in Nigeria. She was frustrated by the sad conditions of some orphanages she visited. On arrival at Anawim Home, she saw a contrast to those she had earlier visited for the Home “radiated Gods love in the nutrition and happiness of the children and humanity with unconditional love evident in Anawim Home.”

On her return to the USA, Diane and a friend established “The Hope for West Africa Foundation” HWFA (http://www.hopeforwestafrica.org) as a non-profit organization, to provide support for sustainable projects, addressing poverty and health care. The leader of the organization, Mrs Diane Blattner, transitioned to a dedicated Board after having retired from active service. The President of the Board is Sarah Kennedy.

The HWFA maintained a trusting relationship with the West African partners. Funds are raised in the USA, as grants to take care of basic projects through board-approved proposals. Their donations and grants target the most pressing needs with full accountability with no overhead costs.

By 2004, Bill and Diane were parishioners of the Church of the Nativity Parish, Timonium, Maryland, USA. The parish had active mission programmes both in their home country and internationally, including Nigeria. This parish in line with their overseas programme partner, the HWFA Foundation, started funding specific projects in support of the Home projects. These projects include the funding of the;

• Infant Jesus Academy building block (2015) and equipping the science laboratories, library, games, etc (2016-2017).
• St. Raphael Clinic equipment through Institute for Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN)
• Home mechanization farmland at Dukpa (2018).
• Construction of hall/kitchen in partnership with Rita and Peter Caluori and Switzerland friends.
• Engagement in scholarship support for orphans at Primary and Secondary education levels
• Provision of a new Hiace bus (2008)
• Sarah hostel – built and furnished by HWFA
• Micro Credit Finance Activities with local women (2015)
• Annual/routine maintenance of 12 boreholes in the Home.
• Perimeter fencing of Dukpa farm covering an area of three and a half hectares.
• Part construction of perimeter fence of the Secondary school (provision of security in the school, with a perimeter fence of solid blocks)
• Administrative staff salary support grant for seven staff members (2017 – date)
• Boreholes in the kitchen
• Feeding of children (many times)
• Sponsorship of administrative capacity building on project writing for 4 staff members in Ghana (2016)
• Finance and Admin officers’ capacity building at Jos (twice) (2016)
• Provision and support for boreholes at Kaduna and Yendi, Ghana. (2015)
• Ladies fellowship – women of easy virtue Get-together taking place every third Wednesday of the month.

The grants from Hope For West Africa (HFWA) Inc and the Nativity Church of Timonium, USA extended to the Ghana Province for financing these under-listed projects:

• Perimeter fencing of Yishelanyili Maryland Ghana community (2019)
• Drilling of borehole for water supply at Yishelanyili Maryland Ghana convent
• Construction of a Chapel at Yishelanyili Convent in Ghana (2020)
• Sponsorship of capacity building of Sisters in Finance and Administrative course (2016).

Another key organization or group that has propped up the work of the Anawim Home project is a group from Switzerland. The main actors are Rita and Peter Caluori who with their friends financed many projects for Home both in Nigeria and Ghana. The projects financed and executed by them include:

1. Building of Skill Acquisition Centre at Gwagwalada, Nigeria (2010)
2. Construction of dining hall and accompanying kitchen
3. Boreholes at various locations serving several institutions and settlements like schools, farms, poor and remote village settlements and nomadic Fulani herders in their settlements (2011 – 2017)
4. Construction of a Boys’ Berth (2016/17)
5. Construction and furnishing of kitchen and hall with cooking utensils, etc (2010)
6. Renovation of children’s Hostels (2016)
7. Construction of fish ponds and funding fish and poultry farming.
8. Completion of Yishelanyili Maryland Ghana Convent (2019 grant).
9. Work on the borehole water supply at Yishelanyili Convent Ghana (2019)
10. Construction of a Convent Chapel at Yishelanyili Ghana (ongoing, 2020).
11. Funding of Christmas celebration and a Christmas dress for all children (2019).
12. Funding special Christmas feeding with chickens for children in Nigeria (2019).
13. Funding the construction of a multipurpose hall at Infant Jesus Academy Secondary School at Bako. The hall requires finishing touches.

Rita and Peter Caluori and their Swiss friends have done enormously towards the growth of Home. We pray for God’s blessing on all of them in the group.

Australian High Commission was invited to assist in the building of a hostel known as the Australian Hostel by Bridge Initiative for African Development (BIFAD). This BIFAD, in partnership with the Australian Embassy, built the hostel for orphans. The hostel was commissioned by the Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Paul Lehman on 19^th December, 2017.

Australian Embassy through the High Commissioner, His Excellency Paul Lehman, saw the passion in the care of the children and being a devout Catholic, made contributions towards the upkeep of the children in the Home. He celebrated many inmates’ birthdays with his Australian classmates and friends with the children. He made the Home to become friends with his biological family in Australia.

The Embassy also funded the construction of a about 100-meter perimeter fence at the Secondary School, Bako to provide security for the students and keep them safe from invading Fulani herders.

Paulo River Estate Developers.

Paulo, River Estate came at the point when feeding the children became a big problem. God sent them to the Home during one of their annual visits to orphanages. That was in 2017. Since then, they have always visited to provide feeding items yearly for the children.

They have also sponsored the training of many children, including those in higher institutions. Recently (2019), the Company purchased books, mattresses and other school materials for the school.

They include;

• Czech Embassy which furnished the Catering units of the Skill Centre.
• Irish Embassy which helped in finishing the Clinic building which was started by Associate Members.