How We Came to Be

Dr. Rick Vanderslice first went to Tanzania in 2006 on a medical mission lead by his local Hilton Head Island church. The experience for him was transformational. Rick returned the next year to the same small fishing villages to do more work. This second trip allowed Rick to spend more time and discuss parish issues with Archbishop Valentine Mokiwa. Over many discussions the enormity of need was apparent, however, the need to help orphans seemed to stand out. Rick told Mokiwa that he would do what he could. Upon Rick’s return home, the daily grind resumed, and life went on. The idea of an orphanage stayed in his thoughts as he pondered the quixotic task at hand. Rick says of the project, “It started with encouragement from my wife and clergy. It led to discussions with friends and acquaintances, all who responded enthusiastically. We then formed a board of people determined to take this idea as far as we could. Soon 26 kids will be living in a safe, loving environment. It has been a long journey to reach this point. The list of challenges has proven formidable. The generosity of our donors has been a wonderful thing and the guidance of our friends at The Global Orphan Project a tremendous blessing. We are delighted to be where we are. We have a long way to go. With God’s help, we will one day have more kids receiving the food, clothing, shelter and education that every kid deserves.”

​