Story

Liv Village is a long term cluster foster care, where children have a sense of belonging in a supportive community. They place orphans and vulnerable children in a family environment where all their needs are met by taking a holistic approach to physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

Lara founded LIV Lukhanyiso after having met LIV Village Founder, Tich Smith in 2011 at a Watoto Choir evening in Ballito where he shared the LIV Vision for South Africa.

In 2013 Lara packed up her successful corporate career to pursue a God given dream – to run a marathon on every continent in the world in one year to raise awareness and funds to buy land and build a LIV Village in her home town of Grahamstown (now named Makhanda). Lara completed all seven marathons and raised R200,000 in the process.

In 2014 the perfect piece of land (33ha) was found for the village, but unfortunately it was not for sale. Undeterred, Lara approached the land owner and offered the R200 000 as a deposit to purchase the land, assuring the owner that she would raise the balance of the funds to purchase the land.  In August of that same year, the land owner contacted Lara and donated the land for LIV Lukhanyiso.

“Lukhanyiso” means light in isiXhosa and that is what we want to be, a light to the city of Grahamstown/Makhanda and to the nation and to point people to the Father in heaven.

Liv Village’s vision is to Rescue a child, Restore a life, Raise a leader and Release a star. To learn more about the incredible work they do, please watch the video below: