Jennifer Beresford is the founder, President and benefactor of a registered charitable Society, “My Painted House Foundation”, providing housing, education and entrepreneurial skills for orphans in Africa.
Project Bethelhaven located in Clocolan, Free State, South Africa, is home to 29 orphaned children ages 4 to 17 years of age. Phase I, completed in 2007, relocated the children from a tin shack in a slum to a normal home. We established an organic garden, orchard and sustainable food sources on site, and enrolled the children in the local education system.
The site is planned as a model economic and self sustaining children’s village, based on the principles of “Trade not Aid”, and full participation by all. We aim to nurture and develop entrepreneurial life skills, empowering the children and encourage self sufficiency.