Abraham And The Children

Abraham Simakin was born into a non-Christian family in Guinea, West Africa.  At the age of ten, Abraham’s Mom and Dad separated and Abraham took to the streets and became a bandit, stealing to survive, and becoming involved with alcohol and drugs.  This style of living landed him in and out of prison during his youth.  During one of his prison terms he met a fellow prisoner who was a Christian pastor from Togo.  This pastor befriended Abraham, treated him with respect and love and shared the gospel and Christian faith with him.

Abraham’s life was to change forever when he experienced a profound Christian conversion and completely handed his life over to Christ!  Released from prison, the pastor and Abraham became lifelong friends and Abraham was to continue his Christian education with him and began, secretly, to become involved in the Christian community.  When it became known, Abraham was banished from his village and from his home and family and his father wanted him killed.   

Abraham continued to live on the streets but this time as a mentor and evangelizer and found himself back within the prison walls, not as a prisoner this time, but to witness to the prisoners, telling them about his conversion and complete change of life when he began to follow Jesus. 
 
At the age of twenty-six, Abraham, once again, had a profound call from God, telling him to care for children - children who lived on the streets, children within the prison system, refugee children and orphans.
 
Thus, the facility known as Jeunes en Compassion – Children of Compassion – was founded in 1992.  Abraham’s “family” grew in numbers – from two children to over forty – and there isn’t a week goes by that Abraham doesn’t get a knock at the gate only to find more children in crisis, but funding restraints keep him from adding more.

The children were first housed in rental property but were eventually forced out by non-Christian landlords who did not want Christians in their building.  They had to make do with very cramped and inadequate quarters until they could move into a home of their own.  Following months of discussion with the government, Abraham was able to get a deed for land on which to build the children’s home.  The project commenced on September 15, 2002 and work progresses when funds are available

In 2005, Abraham made the decision to move the children to the building site as it was becoming increasingly difficult to come up with the monthly rent on their compound. The new facility was just a shell without doors, windows, plumbing, electricity, water, and other necessities – a very bleak existence. 

While there has been progress, there is still much to do.  Efforts are directed now (December 2007) to complete the girls’ dormitory bedrooms, which need to be plastered and painted.  They also want to finish a small bathroom in the girls’ wing and a small African style kitchen.  This will complete the first floor so all the children will have a safe and healthy home in which to live.

Initial plans for the building included the addition of a second storey to house a six-room school, a couple of rooms for offices, and a large open-air-recreational area.  Funding for this addition has not yet been found.

Abraham and the board receive no support from the Guinean government or from any relief organizations.  Canadian missionaries, working at the time in Guinea, saw the need and have spearheaded the efforts to gain support from Canadian churches for the completion of the building.  EWI is partnering with them to do the same in the United States.