LIV is a children’s village in the rural community of Cottonlands near Durban. It provides long-term foster care, modelling their environment on an African village lifestyle. LIV looks after vulnerable and parentless children who live and are cared for by house mothers. It is currently home to over 170 children.
The village was established in 2010 by Tich Smith, a former South African cricketer, and his wife Joan Smith. Together they manage LIV and the many endeavors that run alongside LIV to work towards independent sustainability.
LIV has a good range of facilities to serve the needs of the children including an early childhood development centre, primary school and secondary school classes. There is also an on-site social services and children’s health centre. The aim for the future is to establish health provision for the local community, at which point TWOWEEKS will also become involved. There is a factory run and owed by LIV, based just outside the village, which is within walking distance. They additionally have a cleaning company, flower growing business, and they produce their own eggs, which they sell to local supermarkets.
TWOWEEKS started working in LIV in 2014 carrying out head to toe health checks on all the children and assisting staff and the volunteers with their medical needs and emergencies. TWOWEEKS volunteers have also provided teaching and training to staff, volunteers and the house mothers.