{"id":33633,"date":"2024-05-27T10:00:56","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T08:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/?p=33633"},"modified":"2024-05-27T10:00:56","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T08:00:56","slug":"family-first-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/blog\/2024\/05\/27\/family-first-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Family first"},"content":{"rendered":"

LIV Village is an NPO that places vulnerable and orphaned children into a family environment where they receive the education and love they need to thrive. We chatted to Carita McCririe, who runs the village with her husband Jono, about what drew her to the work and why she has chosen to raise her own family there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fourteen years ago, Carita visited Ndwedwe for the first time. Originally from Cape Town, she was invited to visit the site of what is now LIV Village by its founders Tich and Joan Smith, and she immediately fell in love with the concept of creating a safe and nurturing space for children in need. She joined the village permanently in January 2012, and just a few months later, met Jono who had come over from the UK as volunteer. The two quickly connected and were married two years later in a ceremony that included children and moms from the village. Now, the couple has three beautiful children of their own and are as committed as ever to their work in this unique space. \u201cIt\u2019s so much more than an orphanage or a children\u2019s village,\u201d explains Carita. \u201cIt\u2019s a place for families to do life together.\u201d<\/p>\n