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Sparrow Village was founded on
February 14, 1992 by Rev. Corine McClintock (after
retiring from a successful nursing career).
The concept of
the original Sparrow Village is:
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to provide a
Hospice for the dying,
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a training
center for the living
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and a base
from which to educate the public about HIV/AIDS.
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All
while caring for children with AIDS
Sparrow Village is a
concept that helps patients become self-sufficient
by teaching self-care and how to use the time they
have left to help their family and themselves.
Job training and skills
taught to the homeless and jobless result in the
creation and maintenance of these villages. Of great
importance is the pride and self-esteem developed as
these individuals create a place of dignity and care
for the homeless and dying. After perfecting their
skills they leave the village to become
entrepreneurs, adding responsible businesses and
families to the economy of the local communities.
There
are now Sparrow Villages and "Sparrow Nests" around
the world. |
Over 15 years ago, Rev. Corine was
walking home from a meeting. She
discovered a man living in
the streets dying of AIDS. She
brought him to her home so he could
die in comfort and with dignity. One
week later six other terminally ill
men with AIDS had found refuge and
dignity in her home. Soon her house
was full of abandoned-to-the-street
babies all dying of AIDS. Having
heard of her generosity, police
brought abandoned infants found
throughout the city. There were so
many cribs in her kitchen she could
not get to her refrigerator!
She had a dream of expanding
her care facility to a place
where people with AIDS could
live to the fullest in
peace, with care, with
dignity, and with love - a
place called “Sparrow
Village.”
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Picture abandoned
children with AIDS: they are destitute, seeking out
garbage dumps, not only for food, but for the warmth
the rotting garbage provides during the cold South
African nights.
Can you see children in your mind's eye hiding in
fear, afraid to move, avoiding even possible
rescuers? They know fear, abandonment, abuse, pain,
and hunger. They know little else.
Below are some of Rev. Corine’s AIDS children after
they have been rescued by Sparrow Village.
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It takes so little to make a
child happy...
a bit of love,
a few friends,
and a place to feel safe.
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This was Rev.
Corine's dream - to care for the children who are
alone and in fear... |
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There are now
over 54 establishments with the Sparrow Village
concept in over 30 different countries.
Another large
Sparrow Village is being built the center of one of Johannesburg's
largest "townships". |
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One women with a dream did so much...what could a
service club do?
What could a celebrity do? What
could a corporation do?
What could you do? |
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For more
information and stories:
www.sparrowvillage.org
www.sparrowvillage.com |
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Can we say we are a
civilized world ...
...if we can stand
by and let these children die alone? |
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