Community Center

On the two-acre grounds of the HPLP sits a two-room, concrete-block building, constructed with funds from the 2004 Portland Challenge. This structure was originally intended as a satellite, administrative building for the HPLP children's dormitory. Since the project has transitioned from a live-in/dormitory initiative to child sponsorship and community building, the existing structure on the HPLP grounds has been used as a social services hub and community center.

The community center operates on weekends. Ikra, Mwanaheri, Simba, Ziadi, Mwazani, Abdallah, and dozens of other children (orphaned and not) meet Saturdays and Sundays. With Elvis's background in the arts, they often paint, sculpt, perform skits-or just play like kids! The orphaned/vulnerable children sponsored by the project mix and mingle with the other children from the community-there is no taboo as to who is an orphan and who is not.

There is also a small-scale farming operation on the HPLP site. Cultivated foods are consumed on-site when the community center is open. The site has also hosted medical outreach programs. In addition to its primary [present] function as a children's community center, the HPLP site can act as a hub for surrounding community members of all ages, and easily collaborate with district-sponsored social services and public health programs. The grounds were recently used for a community-wide Idi celebration (SEE PICUTURES), and will continue to act as a gathering place for future events.