Summerhill House opens its doors

Tucked away on the outskirts of Etete township, Summerhill House is a hidden refuge for 24 orphans from the surrounding area.

After years of planning and over a year of building, the new children’s home opened its doors to the media and its sponsors on Monday, October 19, proudly inviting them to see what their donated money had built.

Since building began back in 2013, a brand new community centre at the heart of the children’s home has been completed, as well as one of the four houses that the children will soon call home.

Much work still needs to be done before the project is finished, but founder of Summerhill House, Paula Owen, said that she is thrilled to see the orphanage take shape after years of dreaming about its construction.

“We are building a home for 24 children who deserve the same opportunities many people simply take for granted,” said Owen, who has dedicated eight years to social work and community development in the area.

Working alongside Owen, co-founder Esther ‘Gogo’ Lynn has committed her life to caring for children and said she is very happy to see the orphanage – her dream, come to life.

The remaining three houses are still under construction, but are set for completion at the beginning of 2016, when the centre’s donated astro-turf will also be installed for the children to play on.

With four houses on site, each will be home to six children and a ‘house mom’ to care for them.

“These houses are designed to be their homes for the rest of their young lives, which is why it is so important to make sure each child is fully provided for,” said Owen, who added that the orphanage will cover the costs of education for all 24 children right through to tertiary level.

Owen mentioned, however, that while two of the four houses were sponsored, help is still needed to finish one of the remaining two houses, which at the moment is a shell of brick walls with no roof.

In addition to providing full-time care to two-dozen children, Summerhill House has immersed itself into the Etete community. Feeding 150 hungry children daily and running a ladies sewing project which helps women earn their own income, the orphanage has won the hearts of the Etete community.

Summerhill House director of marketing and fundraising, Lisa Worthy, said the support from Etete residents was essential both before and during the building project.