More News From Good Shepherd Home

The Latest News From Good Shepherd Home

There are many new developments at the Home. One of them is the chicken farm. This project has helped the orphanage to become more self-sustaining. Sr. Jane and her helpers (including the children) now circulate thousands of chickens through areas for chicks, “teenagers,” and mature chickens. The chickens sell for 6 to 8 dollars.

Another project is the Grace Bakery, given by Grace Church, Madison. This traditional outdoor oven is a source of bread for the children, and some is sold. Every day at Good Shepherd Home and the annex in Batibo, about 150 people are fed. Common foods are “fufu,” a sort of corn meal, vegetables, fruits, rice, beans, and sometimes meat.

Thirty of the children are now in secondary school. The country uses the European system, in which all students at age 13 take exams to determine which kind of school they should attend. Some prepare for college and others for various professions. The Good Shepherd children walk to a variety of schools, and two seniors are away at boarding school. Several have scored high in the national exams. Two, Gilbert and Maribel, are planning to attend medical school next year. Godi is now going to shipbuilding school in Douala. These are the first of the orphans to reach young adulthood. Good Shepherd Home will be their home until they are ready to live out on their own.

The younger children from nursery to fifth grade go to the Redeemer School on the property, named for the Church of the Redeemer, Morristown. Beyond this level they begin attending schools in Bamenda. The children are also now fully moved into their new 80-bed dormitory, given in part by the Diocese of New Jersey. All of this development has taken place since 2001, and we are grateful to God and the many persons who have made it possible.

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