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Category: Diaspora News

Written by villageoflovecanada.org

The majority of Canadians are not lumberjacks or fur traders; most of us don't live in an igloo or eat blubber or own a dog sled; our country is the second largest land mass, the first nation of hockey - and many of us, especially in parts of Toronto's west end, are financially well off. 

"We come from a pretty affluent part of the city. There's a fair amount of wealthy homes, but what's really special is there's a great amount of goodwill," said Jeff Douglas, a broadcaster and actor, perhaps best known for his role as "Joe Canadian" in a Molson Canadian's 2000 ad campaign.

Douglas, a Bloor West Village-area resident, is a member of the Runnymede United Church congregation that for a number of years has been a supporter of Village of Love Canada. It's the Canadian arm of its sister charity Village of Love Kenya initiated by Kenyan couple Andrew and Leonora Obara. The two founded Kijiji Cha Upendo - Swahili for Village of Love - a co-operative of Kenyan families bound and determined to care for the thousands of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, who are living in the slums of Kibera.

Andrew and Leonora have been in Toronto since Nov. 1 appearing at several speaking engagements throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Their visit will culminate with World AIDS Day, Sunday, Dec. 4. They will be at St. John's Anglican Church, 288 Humberside Ave., from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. that day for a luncheon and video presentation.

Already parents to five biological children, Leonora, a social worker, first laid eyes on a little girl named Patricia in 2002. The four year old was starving and had parasites and sores all over her legs and feet, which made walking difficult. Leonora, along with her husband, took Patricia to Nairobi for specialized treatment and she soon began to regain her health. The couple adopted Patricia soon after and the "beautiful, well-behaved and intelligent" teen, according to her mother, is about to begin high school. Two years later, Leonora would visit Toronto to speak at a social workers' conference where she connected with fellow social worker Robyn Salter, a Runnymede Church congregant. Since that first meeting, the church has been helping Village of Love through its Mission and Services Fund, said Douglas, providing ongoing fiscal support.

"This story illustrates just how small the world is," said Douglas.

Since the charity's inception, the Obaras have adopted four children. The co-operative is comprised of 15 families caring for 50 AIDS orphans.

"The families of the co-operation are registered with the Kenyan government and are monitored and supported by community workers to safeguard the well being of the children," said Douglas. "It's the best of both worlds - the families are regulated, but full of love."

If you would like more information or would like to help, visit www.villageoflovecanada.org