The 4WatotoHouse
This is our story:
"In the year of its foundation (2020), the 4Watoto Foundation started a very ambitious project: the construction of The 4WatotoHouse in Goma (DR Congo). Construction started in March with the aim of realizing a family home that can provide education in addition to a home. After three and a half months of construction, 4Watoto opened its doors in June 2020. Our family consists of 25 children and 11 adults, who only take on a family role.
We provide intensive care for 1 family, 1 family consisting of 25 children, 11 permanent caregivers and 9 team members.
We give children a home with personal attention. They belong to a close community.
A child can best grow up in a family, but it is not always possible to live with their own parents or close family. This applies to all the children in the 4WatotoHouse. Children need a safe environment.
A family can offer this best and gives children the best foundation to grow up to be emotionally stable and independent adults. That a child can grow up best in a family may sound obvious, but this principle is all too often trampled underfoot.
In family homes, permanent 'family parents' provide a home for a small group of children, with whom they live together as a family. In a foster family or family home, children experience a normal and natural family life. That is why The 4WatotoHouse is not an orphanage, but a family home, a home for 1 family.
Description of the 4WatotoHouse: The ground of the house is 22 meters by 11 meters. The house currently consists of a ground floor with a large roof terrace on top. The house itself is 12 meters by 9 meters. The roof terrace is fenced on all sides with a two and a half meter high wall, this to protect the children. The house consists of eight rooms on the inside: a kitchen, living room, boys' bedroom, girls' bedroom and a room for the staff where they can rest and where items such as notebooks and pens are stored. In addition, this room also contains the Medicine safe. Both the girls' and boys' bedroom have their own bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet. The employees have an outside toilet. Since 4Watoto has not yet been able to build its own school, the children are taught at home. For this purpose, the living room is converted into a classroom.