Noah's Ark

 Some information I learned about my internship site after an interview with my supervisor:

The more I learn about Noah’s Ark, the more I appreciate the organization.  All I could think about as I sat listening to Irene, the volunteer coordinator, tell me stories of the children, how the organization started, and how the program runs, was how blessed I am to be a tiny part of it all.  Noah’s Ark has a solid foundation in Christ, a holistic approach to child development, and a passion for loving children who were once unloved. 

            Noah’s Ark started over 10 years ago when a Dutch couple named Peter and Pita Buitendijk felt called to a ministry which focused on abandoned children.  They started with juts 2 children and now today they have over 200.  They accept children when they are 0-2 years old and raise the children until they are 18 and finished with high school.  All the children are either orphans or abandoned with the rate being 63% abandoned or abused, 35% orphaned, and 2% other.  The story of one little boy especially touched my heart.  Jethro is one of the happiest babies I’ve met so far, and I was shocked to find out he was near death when brought to Noah’s Ark.  Jethro had been thrown into a pit latrine after birth and was in there for 3 hours until rescued.  It was a miracle he survived the toxins and lack of air.  Many other kids have similar stories to jethro, like kids being left on the side of the road or in dumpsters or kids being neglected and starved to death by their parents.  Some kids’ parents just can’t take care of them, like if the mother dies or they cannot financially support, and in these cases the parents can take their children back later on.  In fact, Irene says, “that is what we want.  We want the kids to e with their parents if they are able to care for the kids properly.”  If not, the kids are loved and cared for by the many “aunties” or caretakers who love spending time with the children in the home, the place where all the young children reside.
            Noah’s Ark has staff in various departments.  Some workers are in charge of maintenance, some run the farm or garden where they get their own food from, some teach at the school, some live with the older teens as house parents, some work in the offices, and some take care of the children.  Noah’s Ark also gladly accepts volunteers and visitors.  Volunteers stay from 3 months to over a year and work full-time.  Visitors, like me, help out mainly in the home for short periods of time.
            Noah’s Ark has a set purpose and a strong mission.  Their goal is to have a Biblical and holistic approach to child development and care.  They want to raise a child to be well-rounded, healthy, smart, and loved.  They really care for the well-being of the children and want them to grow up to be successful, independent, and able to care for themselves.  My favorite thing Irene said in the interview was that they are simply “helping children who don’t have a home.  They were nobody but now they’re somebody.”  Noah’s Ark takes children who would have died or spent their whole life struggling to survive and gives them new life.  Noah’s Ark tells them that they matter and have an important place in God’s kingdom.  They tell children who feel as though they are unlovable that they are loved.