A
Brief History of
Homeless Children
International
In 1983, David High, now President of Homeless Children International, was
on vacation in Brazil visiting one of his brothers, Thomas, then a missionary in Sao
Paulo, Brazil. Thomas suggested that David spend at week at the beach and arranged for
another missionary to accompany him there on the bus. On the way they stopped at an
orphanage in Santos, Brazil to drop something off. It was while visiting these kids, who
had come from the streets of Santos, and the woman who had taken then in, Dona Naomie,
that the Lord began to speak to David about becoming involved in the lives of homeless
children.
David was, at first, resistant to the Lord’s calling to be "a father to these
children," and returned home to continue with his own plans for his life. The Lord
continued to speak to him, and finally David turned his will over to God. He was uncertain
just what the Lord wanted him to do in order to assist these homeless kids, but by 1985,
he started to organize sponsors for bicycle trips he made from Tennessee and Virginia to
Florida, raising money for the orphanage in Santos. He also began to learn a lot more
about the problems of street kids and homeless children worldwide.
In early 1991, David took a month long trip through Brazil, further investigating the
extent and problems of abandoned children. Several weeks after his return he shared the
idea of starting a ministry for homeless children with his Bible study group. With their
encouragement, Homeless Children International (HCI) was founded.
[ To read the full story, in his own words, of how
David High experienced the call of the Lord to work with homeless and abandoned kids, read
A Way Home. ]
One of the strategies that HCI has used to extend its ministry is through the
cultivation of partnerships with organizations, churches, groups, and individuals who have
already proved their effectiveness in serving homeless kids in their local communities.
This has proved to be an efficient and cost effective method of reaching out to more
homeless and abandoned children in more cities and countries then would have otherwise
been possible.
A chronology of HCI’s further growth and partnerships include the following:
Partnership with Lar Efrata, children’s home
in Embu Guacu, Brazil
1994
John High, David’s other brother, is asked by HCI to set up
intervention programs for street kids in Nairobi, Kenya, establishing a Kenyan arm of the
organization
1995
Partnership with the First Baptist Church of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to
build the Wayne Walker Memorial Home, completed in
1998
1996
Partnership with Mission Timoteo,
children’s home in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
HCI-Kenya completes incorporation as a Kenyan,
non-governmental organization (NGO)
HCI Board of Directors sends Kirk Davis to Bolivia to oversee the construction of the
Wayne Walker Memorial Home
Partnership with Missao Criancas Do Rei, children's home in Joao Pessoa, Brazil
HCI-Kenya opens Chombo Cha Upendo Shelter for street girls in Nairobi, Kenya
1998
Construction of Wayne Walker
Memorial Home is completed, the dairy farm goes into production and the home is opened
for abandoned children in Los Chacos, Bolivia
HCI agrees to support Serving Asian Youth for Jesus, International, in developing
children’s homes and street schools in Vietnam
1999
David High, travels to United Kingdom, Germany, and Romania to explore
new ministry opportunities for HCI
HCI approves beginning work in Thailand
during the summer of 2000 with the sending of Olaf and Manuel Brellenthin
HCI Board of Directors approve two new branches of ministry, HCI-Romania and HCI-UK
2000
HCI moves its Home Office to Greenville, South Carolina
HCI will continue to seek God's will and direction as it
considers new ministries and partnerships of intervention in the lives of abandoned and
homeless children around the would. If you would like to participate in any of these
ministries please see the section on how you can get involved.
If you would like further information, please contact us.
