Africa, it’s not as far as it seems!  Scapes and Pete Wilkerson have been participating and supporting on a volunteer and financial basis an organization called Heart for Africa.  As a faith based organization initiated by Bruce Wilkinson in 2004, HFA partners with existing homes in the countries of Kenya and Swaziland.  Currently with 6 homes HFA is working along side, HFA and its director, Janine Maxwell, continue to reach out and provide sustainable solutions by providing food, water, shelter, and education to those orphaned by aids or kids who have sought refuge in the streets of Nairobi.  As the title of Janine’s book states “It’s not Okay with me”, seeing these deplorable conditions were not Okay with her. 

Fast forward to today, Pete has visited and worked at 4 of the six homes over the past 2.5 years. Original involvement was sparked in Pete’s heart because the focus was on plants and gardening. The program titled “never ending gardens” was a great way to use our landscape talents in service work. Work consists of planting rotational vegetable gardens to stem the tides of malnutrition, building and equipping schools and support staff facilities such as houses and kitchens, and raising funds to donate milking cows to widows for a sustainable income to feed their kids and provide for their community. 

While on one trip in the fall of ’07 in Naivosha, Kenya, word got out that Pete is a Landscape Architect.  One thing lead to another and now Pete has developed along with the Scapes team, a long term site plan for 2 of the homes including, clinics, schools, dorms, and water collecting and retention areas.  Currently, HFA has been presented the opportunity to acquire 2450 acres in Swaziland that could provide sustainable income once developed for all the homes that are being supported by HFA.  This land will also provide orphanages for those kids who are left behind by the aids epidemic.  Pete and the Scapes team are providing land use & site planning studies to assist in developing this property to the fullest potential.  Currently, a Alpharetta based company, MedAssets Inc. is supporting this mission along with its employees to help raise awareness and help raise funds to see this project come to fruition.

We look forward to hearing more from Pete upon his return from his next service trip to Africa this fall.  More can be learned by visiting www.HeartforAfrica.org