What does a Mortgage Pool Fund Management company, a faith-based Real Estate Mastermind group and an eastern North Carolina country church have in common? These groups share the common goal of improving the lives of 85 orphaned children in Tanzania through the Shalom Orphanage.
The Shalom Orphanage is a non-profit entity established by Mama Warra Nnko in 2004, with the goal of improving the fortunes of orphaned and abandoned children. The orphanage currently supports over 80 children, ranging in age from 0 to 18 years old—with most of those children being double orphans, having lost both parents. Many of the children under Shalom Orphanage’s care are suffering from serious medication conditions including HIV/AIDS, mental or physical limitations and trauma-induced complications. The orphanage aims to provide love, comprehensive healing and day-to-day care for these children. Over 1.2 million children in Tanzania have lost a parent due to AIDS and a significant percentage of those children also have tested positive for the disease.
The Shalom Orphanage is located in Karatu, a bustling village in East Africa. The indigenous population face significant struggles—especially the children. Nearly 68% of the Tanzanian population lives below the international poverty rate, subsisting on less than $1.25 per day. Alcohol, drugs and unplanned children result in a large number of children being abandoned at a young age. Mama Warra, along with her now deceased husband Bishop Nnko, established Shalom in 2004 to help alleviate the suffering of these children. Originally housed in a single tiny room, Mama Warra initially took in three children. That number quickly multiplied, and in 2007, with the assistance of like-minded volunteers, Mama Warra was able to construct the existing orphanage that 80 children now call home.
In 2018, Darin Brockelbank, the founder of Kings City Mastermind in Charlotte, North Carolina, traveled to Tanzania as part of a Samaritans Feet charitable event and discovered Shalom Orphanage. He was introduced to Mama Warra, who informed him of the orphanage’s mission, where he met representatives from Goldsboro Worship Center—also located in North Carolina—who were building a hostel for Shalom. The group discussed the existing revenue streams that supported the orphanage—including the small hostel that had been started by the Goldsboro Worship Center, whose profits went directly to providing for the care of the Shalom orphans.
Upon returning to the U.S., Darin collaborated with his colleagues at King City Mastermind to organize a group of real estate professionals willing to assist the Goldsboro Worship Center in completing the Shalom Orphanage hostel project. As a key member of this team, Carolina Capital Management helped raise over $40,000 and put together a 12-person team to travel to Tanzania in July 2019. This group was able to complete six of the 12 rooms in addition to 28 luxury campsites. The hostel is scheduled to open for its inaugural guests in December 2019, with the remaining rooms set to be completed soon thereafter. “The most important thing that took place while there were the relationships and lifelong friendships that were developed between the 12 travelers and 85 precious children,” says Wendy Sweet of Carolina Capital Management. “We witnessed a love so strong between children who have nothing but each other and will do whatever it takes to care for each other. They possess no jealousy or coveting, only joy and gratefulness for what little they do have. They especially love with all of their hearts, Mama Warra. Every day there, we witnessed miracle after miracle and a depth of love that is hard to believe exists.”
Mama Warra’s ultimate goal is to expand the Shalom Orphanage’s capacity to 120 children. As part of this aim, each child would be able to attend a local boarding school that will provide food, books, and uniforms during the school year to help offset the operational costs of the orphanage. The affiliated private boarding school offers a discounted annual rate to the orphanage of $640 per child. Carolina Capital Management and other businesses associated with King City Mastermind are assisting in the expansion efforts and hope to reach the goal in the next three years. The group is seeking other likeminded businesses and individuals to join the effort by either participating in the bi-yearly trips to Tanzania or submitting donations. “We believe that revival throughout the world will come through businesses who will come alongside those dedicated to building the Kingdom, one child at a time, “says Wendy Sweet.
If you, your business or organization are interested in providing financial assistance, donations can be made in order to fund the completion of the hostel project, sponsoring a child’s educational costs or sponsoring a volunteer travelling to Tanzania by visiting https://www.goldboroworshipcenter.com/giving. If you feel led to join them on a trip with your family, coworkers, or individually, please contact Wendy Sweet at wendy@carolinahardmoney.com or 704-400-9481.
