Gord and Anita Cooledge (Latasha, Nathan, Ben)

- Directors of the Village of Hope

Our PASSION

Because of our life experiences with our own children, God has given us both a passion for orphans. To see them given hope, love and security so they too, like us, can dare to dream of a vocation and a calling. ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit’, we know that this vision can happen for the most vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. With love and Christ centered discipling, the ‘least of these’ can become great! (Zec. 4:6 / Luke 9:48)

OUR FOCUS

The Village of Hope orphanage in Harare, Zimbabwe is one of seven Villages of Hope in Africa. On the outskirts of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, there is a 20 acre campus with a church, preschool, Primary School, Secondary school and eight children’s homes. Each house holds 8 children cared for by a house mom and house auntie. The development of this property, staffing and day to day operations at the Village of Hope, have been our mission in Zimbabwe.

OUR STORY

From small town Ontario in 2005, to Subsahara Africa, God has taken our family, our love of children and our administrative experience, and set us up with a miracle! Despite the alarming AIDS statistics, despite the economic and political challenges in this beautiful country, we have watched as God supplied a ‘way where there seemed to be none’… Registration of the Village of Hope orphanage – Registration of a Primary School we call CHAPS (Cornelius Hope Academy Primary School) – Registration of a Secondary School we call CHASS – and new life into a Community Outreach Program that now feeds about 400 needy children daily.

But God’s not done yet…

Let us share hope and a miracle, with you!

UPDATE – February, 2011 – At the completion of our work permits and contract this August, 2011, our family will return to Canada and a new Director will take on the vision of the Village of Hope to take it to the next level. Please pray for this person & their family, and for a smooth transition. We praise God for the opportunity He has given us here!

To download our brochure (.pdf file), Click Here.