Today we’d like to introduce you to Janey DeMeo.
Janey, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in England. From an early age, seeing children or animals suffer by neglect, poverty, hunger… bothered me. I did what I could to help, ministering to street children and such, but felt overwhelmed by the size of the problem. Later, I became a Christian and spent six months as bi-lingual secretary for a pastor who was church planting in Montreal. (He later became my husband.)
Within a year of being married, we moved to France as missionaries and church-planters. I was again disturbed to see kids neglected—which is one of the reasons we founded a club to help underprivileged kids in France. I was even more troubled by what I’d see on the news – homicide in Rwanda, the Bosnian-Yugoslavian war, child refugees with limbs blown off… It used to keep me awake at night, especially once I had my own kids.
I began praying for them every day and also rallying prayer support. In the Bible classes I taught, I would frequently bring up my burden for these victims. I still felt helpless. So, in 1998, I founded Orphans First, a non-profit organization reaching impoverished children in several countries: www.orphansfirst.org. Orphans First provide food, clothes, education, medical help and biblical teaching to impoverished children in several countries, including just over the border in Tijuana, Mexico.
In response to some of the neglect I saw among kids which simply came from poor parenting—even in the West—I wrote a parenting book, Heaven Help Me Raise These Children!—Biblical Direction for Practical Parenting Issues. (The book, now out-of-print, still exists in French.) I am also a qualified Bible teacher and taught at our Bible School in France as well as at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta.
My husband and I visit our children’s homes in India periodically. And because of proximity, we visit the Orphans First children’s program in Mexico monthly. My life is dedicated to helping hurting kids, including local ones. (I am shocked to see that, in one of the richest areas of the world where people live in huge mansions, so many kids live in foster care, or on the streets. Much work to be done.)
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Although I know we are making a difference, it is hard to see that child neglect is still so rampant. Sometimes that abuse is more subtle. For example, kids have never had so much pressure and been bombarded by such intense politically motivated garbage. Their vulnerable minds are being pressured to make choices they don’t even understand. This is discouraging, even heart-wrenching at times.
In Mexico or India, the problems are huge. Several of our kids have PTSD from seeing their parents shot and killed (drug-deal gone wrong). One 11-year-old boy lives with his grandma and siblings and he is the houseboy. He has to do all the errands and take care of his handicapped aunt. He has anger, and now rarely attends our feeding program – because he’s doing chores.
Meanwhile, he’s failing at school. I am frustrated and sad that we can’t do more for him—because his guardians make poor choices. It is also hard to find businesses and church interested in supporting smaller ministries—and funds are always an issue. Many prefer to support the mainstream, huge non-profits. Meanwhile, we are reaching kids no one else is reaching. And we’re doing it without publicity and marketing. Just by faith. Still, I thank God for those He allows us to reach. I thank Him for the transformation in their lives that comes because of our programs.
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
Orphans First is a small but exceptional non-profit organization helping underprivileged kids in several countries (as well as advocating for orphans and foster kids in America).
We create children’s homes where possible. And, where the infrastructure for a home is not yet possible, we provide children’s programs, where kids receive help (food, clothes, medical…) but still live in their “slums.” We have also taken care of impoverished kids in Western Africa, orphans and blind children in Russia, an impoverished deaf child in Thailand, and we’ve come alongside orphanages and done extensive relief work in Haiti.
We are known for our integrity and good stewardship, Christ-centered focus, grass roots, and holistic approach in helping desperately needy children. We reach children no one else is reaching. We are known for taking challenges, which seem to surpass our budget and for which we depend fully on God.
What were you like growing up?
I was always highly sensitive, both a feeler and thinker. I was deeply moved when I saw animals or kids suffer and always wanted to do something to help. Other than that, I loved to draw, dance, interact with animals (especially horses), the ocean, friends, watching Dr.Who on TV (hey, I grew up in England), eat Marmite or ‘date & banana sandwiches.’ As a teen, I loved music (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, James Taylor, Neil Young, Carol King…). And I loved to dance.
I went to university to study French & English literature, and philosophy and questioned the meaning of life. I wanted to know what happened to our soul after death. I grew up in the greater London suburban area with my parents and three siblings. The pain I felt when I saw children or animals hurt (or anyone really) never left me. It was only when I became a Christian at 19 that I began to find hope and moved toward making a real difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.orphansfirst.org
- Phone: 760-672-0511
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orphansfirst/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrphansFirst/
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