Excitement Abounds at Happy Family Children’s Village

Our first writing workshop and book delivery was a tremendous success at the Happy Family Children’s Village in the Arumeru District of Tanzania. Since 2014, the Children’s Village has offered loving homes with committed long-term caretakers for more than 130 children not able to immediately return to family members.

The Happy Family Children’s Village has a family reunification rate of more than 50%. Additionally, mortality and morbidity rates have plummeted while developmental milestones have steadily increased. Lift the Lid has gotten to know the Children’s Village over the past three years, and we are excited to team with them in alleviating the hardships of poverty, inspiring newfound happiness and optimism through donations and moral support via creative writing.

Enjoy these photos of Lift the Lid’s writing workshop at the Happy Family Children’s Village in which many of the children participated, writing 33 personal essays. From what we’ve seen at the other schools we support, that number will double in the years to come. We’re just planting the seeds for writing and self-expression now, skills they will turn to throughout their lives.

As part of the workshop, we made a book donation and provided the funds for a day of play at a local amusement park for everyone at the orphanage. Their smiles say it all!