Breaking Ground on New Land—Ivory Coast Orphanage Will Have a New Home

Co-founder of EMSF’s Le Prince Orphanage Maman Auguy puts a stake in the ground of their new land, establishing it as the orphanage’s property.

Ever since I first visited in 2018, the staff at EMSF's Le Prince Orphanage have been trying to find a piece of land for themselves—one where they can freely start and grow sustainability initiatives, and one they can always count on as their home. They first opened the orphanage in 2005, and they have been renting their property since then, which has been tumultuous to say the least. 

They've been afraid of losing their home so many times, whether because they couldn't pay the high rent or because the landlord just wanted to sell it to the hotel next door. The overwhelming weight of finding a new home has rested on their shoulders a long time. For a few years now, their landlord has been threatening to sell the property, but thankfully hasn't had the heart to put all of the kids out on the street. 

Since our partnership with them, they've pursued two different pieces of land, both of which were being gifted to them by generous, good-hearted neighbors. But both of these fell through. With the first, it was that the woman's children intercepted her gift to the orphanage and took the land back. With the second, for some reason, they just couldn't get through the bureaucratic tape.

Now they finally have new land, gifted to them by a pastor in their city! This is incredible! I hope you can feel the excitement. Even if their landlord sold their current home tomorrow, they would have somewhere to go, to at the very least camp (not ideal, but way better than homelessness, right?). 

This land will allow them to create a home that perfectly suits them and their needs. And it will allow them to sustainably support themselves with plenty of room to execute sustainability initiatives like the takeout restaurant they have already started. 

Next step, building the new orphanage.

But first, let’s celebrate this amazing moment by flipping through some fun photos.