Registration for the primary school on the Village of Hope grounds in Harare, Zimbabwe, (Cornelius Hope Academy Primary School), has be given a registration number and is officially allowed to open as of April 2. Interview for a school principal are underway. Should a suitable candidate be found, school for grades 1 and 2 will available as early as the May - July 2007 term. If not the school will officially open January 2008.

In September 2006, Pat and Ann Laforet, part of our West Edge family left to join the humanitarian organization, Lifeline Malawi (www.lifelinemalawi.com) with Dr. Chris Brooks, President and Medical Director. Pat takes the position of Field Managing Director responsible for operations at the clinic in the Ngodzi and overseeing the construction of new on-site medical buildings.

To keep people abreast of what they have been doing, they have set up a blog at http://lifelinemalawi.blogspot.com.

» Meet Pat and Ann Laforet.

On Friday, June 23, 2006, Village of Hope - Malawi officially received their registration with the Malawian government to operate as a legal children's home in Malawi. The task of selecting children and house mothers is still ongoing.

"Friday June 23rd 2006 is a great mile stone for Village of Hope - Malawi. Today we officially received our registration with The Malawi Government and can now proceed forward as a legal children's home in the country of Malawi."
- Jr Andrews, Director, Village of Hope, Malawi

» View pictures of the offical registration.

The equipment for borehole and irrigation systems was purchased in April and the projects were completed in May. The missions team from West Edge participated in implementing the systems. The supply of fresh drinking water not only covers the Village of Hope but it is open to the surrounding community who use when there are shortages in the city's water supply.

» See pictures of the team at work.

In November 2005, under the aegis of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Malawi (PAOM) the Village of Hope site was officially opened. In preparation for this event, one home was completely finished and furnished.

» View pictures from the opening.

Afterwards, the homes will be opened one after another. West Edge's home called Nyumba ya Mulungu (Chichewa - local language, for House of God) is expected to open in 2007-2008.

Right now, the orphanage is going through the legal process of being registered. The search is currently taking place to find 12 house mothers. Steps are also underway to determine which children will come into the Village of Hope.

The situation in Zimbabwe continues to be challenging both economically and in trying to get the operations Village of Hope orphanage registered with the Department of Social Welfare. This will take some time.

Regarding the borehole and irrigation systems, shopping for supplies occurred during the later part of March. The plans for the irrigation system, defining water needs projections, and future development of the farm, are being finalized.

The equipment will be purchased during the beginning of April and take 3-4 weeks to complete. These projects are expected to be completed by mid-May.