Where We Work:
Bohol, Philippines
|
Children living at the four Arms of Love Children's Homes
in
the Philippines, in August 2006 |
Current
Status
The Arms of Love Children's
Home on the Island of Bohol is located on about five acres
of land near Tagbilaran City. The children's home ministry
includes a facility that contains four distinct homes,
each of which is designed to accommodate 12 children, a
resident houseparent couple, and one resident assistant.
Children began moving into the homes in January 2001. As of
summer 2006, 41 children were living in the four homes and
were being cared for by 18 full-time staff. A multi-purpose
facility on the property includes staff offices, indoor
recreational space, a common kitchen and dining area,
computer lab, library and accommodations for visiting
volunteers and short-term teams.
In addition to providing open
recreational space, several acres of the children's home
property have been developed as a farm that both generates
income and provides food for the children's home. The farm
raises and sells fish, chickens, eggs, goats' milk, sheep,
mangos, pigs and various vegetables. The children living in
the Children's Home participate in caring for the animals
and crops.
In 2006, Arms of Love also
began operating a "young adult transition home" in
Tagbilaran City, where youth who have graduated from high
school can reside while they pursue a further education at
the University of Bohol. As of mid-2006, three of our
children had moved into the "young adult transition home."
Arms of Love also owns a
property in downtown Tagbilaran City, which is being used by
the Vineyard church that is affiliated with the project.
This building hosts regular worship services, contains
additional office space, and is used as a base for
compassion ministry outreaches, youth events, and other
gatherings.
Future Plans
No new facilities are planned
for our ministry in the Philippines. As of the fall 2006,
our primary capital needs are (1) completing the interior of
the fourth home, (2) purchasing a second bus for
transporting the children, and (3) completing our purchase
of the multi-purpose facility.
When fully-developed, we
anticipate that we will be caring for a maximum of 48
children on the children's home property, plus an additional
group of youth living in the downtown transition home while
attending university and transitioning to adulthood.
