The LIFE Project
The LIFE Project serves as part of the humanitarian arm of Overland Missions, providing physical care to rural villages as a follow-up to the initial preaching of the Gospel.
VISION
The LIFE Project seeks to keep the village family structure intact by providing education as well as social and health care for orphans, widows, the vulnerable and HIV/AIDS victims living in the village. LIFE programs are geared toward utilizing manpower from within the village to create self-sustaining systems that can succeed and thrive within their existing culture.
Areas of support:
• Education: Initiate early education and adult literacy programs where schools currently do not exist
• Health: Bring necessary healthcare and awareness to rural villages
• Vulnerable Care: Assist widows, orphans, elderly and those who are otherwise helpless
OBJECTIVES
Detailed objectives will be included in the Village Development Plan; the following represents broad objectives of the ministry:
Education
• Provide training and curriculum for community-based preschools
• Provide all eligible children with basic reading and mathematical skills
• Provide adult literacy programs for reading and writing skills
• Identify children with disabilities and refer them to government and/or NGO programs to enable satisfactory educational opportunities
Health
• Provide every village with training on HIV/AIDS, its impact, treatment and prevention
• Identify village residents with unique health issues and align them with programs/health care opportunities to address the need
• Identify overall village health issues (water supply, sanitation, nutrition, etc), develop and implement programs to meet these needs
Vulnerable
• Identify vulnerable people (the elderly, the sick/diseased, widows, orphans, etc) and develop/implement programs to meet their needs
THE BIG PICTURE
The LIFE Project works through Overland Missions’ Sector Managers and with the other departments of Overland including Advanced Mission Training, Expeditions, the Rural Pastors Network, The SAM Project. LIFE also works in conjunction with local churches, non-governmental organizations (NGO), faith-based organizations (FBO) and services provided by the local government such as clinics and schools.
