The children who live at the Motherless Babies Home in Uzuakoli, Nigeria, are not up for adoption. In fact, most of them aren’t orphans. They are motherless, but perhaps not fatherless. Most have at least some known relations nearby. Families surrender the children to the home after the death of their mothers, usually in childbirth, because there are no resources to feed or care for the babies.
Some fathers choose to place their babies where there is at least a chance of reuniting with them, rather than risk being separated from them forever by forceful government intervention. “Most of them come to us when they are two days, one week, or, perhaps, one month old,” said Mary Van den Corput, matron of the home since 2006. “Our goal is for them to be back with their families by the time they are three or four years of age. But, some are still here at age eight or nine.
“Our goal is for them to be back with their families by the time they are three or four years of age. But, some are still here at age eight or nine.”
“Their families never stabilized enough to take them back. Bishop (Sunday Onuoha, VA founder and president) has negotiated some of the reunifications himself,” she continued, “including a set of triplets, and that was very good. I met the Bishop when I started this position in 2006, and the first thing he did was bring us a generator that still functions and gives light to the home. Vision Africa is very faithful to visit.”
Matron Mary Van den Corput
Uzuakoli Motherless Babies Home
The Motherless Babies Home accepts no cash from the babies’ families. Everything from the salt on the table to the clothes on the kids’ backs to the minibus they use for transport comes strictly from outside donations. When improvement projects, like painting and roofing, are needed, the home relies on faith and prayer—and, often, on support from Vision Africa.
“Nobody’s taking care of these kids apart from what people are donating,” Van den Corput said. “So, if I had to use one word to describe Vision Africa, it would be ‘positivity.’ Vision Africa is reaching and touching people’s lives positively. And, it goes a long, long way.”
“Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,” say the lyrics of a well-known gospel song by the same name, “a long, long way from home.” Will you join us in helping these children feel a little closer to home? Click the Donate button below and spread some hope.
