TWCF News & Stories

Officials from the Abia State Ministry of Education came by to inspect our school Homestead Alternative Academy. Perhaps it was due to our coming in second place in the private school competition held recently in the State. We are pleased to report that they were very happy for the work we are doing in the school, educating not our own TWCF Children’s Home children , but now opening seats to children in the community to attend. They were very pleased with our system of classes, teaching instruction, elective opportunities, and social emotional learning. They were also very impressed with our collaborative learning process of meeting students where they are at to ensure learning out comes.

Mr. Amos Antoka, one of our TWCFN Directors and our Abia State Site Manger, along with our Office Manger Gideon (HeavyD), and Principal Victoria, offer incredible oversight and hands-on work with our teachers and children to ensure our Homestead learning environment is one of collaboration, peace, joy, and learning. Their hard work of setting-up learning, which incorporates Canadian, American, and Nigerian curriculum, offers a wide variety of lessons and learning opportunities for the students which invite curious questions, personal and shared learning, and positive attitudes toward education.

We are so excited to announce that this year, Homestead Alternative Academy, opened up seats in the school for community children to attend. Forty (yes 4-0!) new children were added to our school grades, between Kindergarten and Grade 7, some classes saw lots of intakes, and others just a few. There was great excitement both in TWCF children and staff with adding new students, as well as in the community once they heard we opened enrolment. There was a mob at the gate with many families jousting and vying for their children to attend, and while the number accept seemed low to the community, it is a huge difference and undertaking for TWCF and for the Homestead Teachers and Students.

Once the forty new students were accepted and starting day came around, there was great excitement in the compound, which took a couple weeks for everyone to settle into new rhythms with new friends/classmates and into routines of learning.

A full house, with staff, family members, close friends, and children (most of whom are now taller than our Christmas tree!) Still, there is always an atmosphere of excitement and joy on Christmas morning at TWCF. I think we will need to get a bigger tree next year, to fit everything underneath. It was a wonderful holiday period this year, with lots of crafts, singing, sports activities, and cooking. The children continue to cherish the holiday time, offering songs and drama’s at their church as well as in the house for each other.

Our sons are growing so big, getting tall, becoming stronger, braver, funnier, more filled out, expert footballers, wonderful helpers…and as you can see dashingly handsome. Each one of these amazing fellas (including our two Angels Mike and Gabe who are not in the picture), bring so much joy, so much wisdom, and so much laughter in to the TWCF home. Our hearts and home would not be the same if even one of them was missing. We are so blessed that their lives have come to be part of TWCF.

Our fabulous daughters, shining in their Nija print Christmas dresses! How bold, bright, and beautiful are they… and these dresses are a true reflection of the indomitable spirits of our girls. Bold and courageous, bright and full of joy, beautiful on the inside and out. TWCF is blessed by their kind hearts, eager brains, and helping spirits!