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Phase 3 Foster Homes

Phase 3 is what really differentiates Open Arms from conventional orphanages. Open Arms has over the past 6 years purchased three dwelling houses in the north east of Blantyre for children who will be with us for the long term. Each house has been modified to accommodate up to six children and two House Parents.

The Foster Houses are carefully chosen so the kids can walk, accompanied by a House Parent, to school. The schools chosen are recognized as good Private Schools, and the children therefore have excellent life opportunities ahead of them.

It is envisaged that they will remain in Roses, Richmond or Sekwe House much as an ordinary family would remain in their familial Home.

Plans are already afoot to purchase the fourth house which will be known as Ashville House after the Harrogate school that funded it.

Roses House - our first foster home.
Funds from the Cheridan Raithby Charitable Trust and the Rose Jeffries Memorial Fund, both based in Harrogate, raised the eighteen thousand pounds that allowed us to purchase this five bed roomed house. Aubrey, Wilson, Norman and Mary (the famous four) live in Rose’s House with foster family Save and Robert Pophera and their son Blessings. They attend a good private school near to the house and The Royal Alexandra and Albert School at Gatton Park in the South of England have generously funded their future education.

Richmond House - our second foster home.
Funds for this project came from Richmond House Prep School in Leeds. Malita, Nelifa, Chikondi, Mercy and Agness now enjoy security and permanence of life at Richmond House with foster parents Mr. and Mrs. Longwe. Their school fees have been paid for by a number of well wishers and it is planned that they should spend the next eight years at the same school. (photo of kids standing in front of car in grey pinafores)

Sekwe House - our third foster home.
Sekwe is Chichewa for wild goose, named after the Dutch sponsor the Wilde Gansen Foundation. Two volunteers from Melbourne, Carol-Anne and Peter helped to renovate it with funds they raised in Australia. Ephraim, Eric, Sam and Agness live here.