Agriculture and Business

Through training opportunities and partnerships with local organizations, Orphan Relief and Rescue seeks to empower orphanages towards a sustainable future and financial self-reliance.

The goal of these capacity building programs is to alleviate dependence on outside sources of funding through projects which will increase each orphanage's ability to be more self-sustaining. At the same time, older children have the opportunity to learn valuable skills and gain practical experience through each of the three program areas – skills that can lead to future employment opportunities.

Agriculture

Agriculture is an excellent way for orphanages to supplement the children’s diets with home-grown vegetables. In addition, ORR encourages rice production and root crop multiplication. Crops from the farm not only provide the orphanage with an ongoing source of food for the children, but the surplus may be sold at the market, providing a source of income for the orphanage.

Orphan Relief and Rescue’s agriculture program aims at supporting local orphanages in their efforts to grow nutritious crops by providing seeds, tools, and training. Orphanage staff and children are trained in methods that improve soil fertility and increase crop productivity, including composting, mulching, and organic pest control. ORR encourages sustainable food production techniques that continue to improve the land as well as supply successful harvests.

Orphan Relief and Rescue provides assistance in starting animal breeding programs with partnering orphanages. The animal breeding program helps to provide a nutritious source of protein for the children in the orphanage, manure to fertilize orphanage gardens, and income for the orphanage as animals and their products are sold at the market. The ultimate goal is to increase self-sufficiency and ensure food security at the orphanage.

A large part of the program includes training orphanage staff and children in how to raise and breed animals. The program will have an impact not only on the livelihood of the orphanage but also the children’s futures.

The goal of the micro-enterprise program is to assist each orphanage in developing up to three businesses which will provide the orphanage with a sustainable source of income. Orphan Relief and Rescue is partnering with LEAD (Liberian Entrepreneurial and Asset Development) and Access Bank to provide business skills training and small loans for orphanage directors and staff. In addition, mentorship will be provided by ORR to assist in business development.

While orphanage directors work hard to establish their financial futures, we have a team of Liberian workers rebuilding the broken buildings.