“I believe that if business, government and the church work together, we can put a roof over every orphan and vulnerable child’s head, give them a mother who will love them, feed and educate them to the glory of God, and this nation will be changed forever.”
– Tich Smith –
LIV Founder
WHY WE EXIST
LIV exists to Glorify God by serving the vulnerable children of our nation.
There are millions of children at risk in South Africa. LIV focuses on the solution, and we do this by bringing hope and a future to the most vulnerable.
We believe that if these children are equipped with essential moral values and life skills, they will grow up to be a generation they will influence positive change within our country, Africa and the world. Together we can!
OUR FOUNDERS
Tich was a South African sports star who lost it all to alcohol. Joan had recently lost her husband. Their lives were at rock bottom when grace showed up and inspired these two middle-class South Africans to move past the racial prejudices of the Apartheid era and launch a ministry together.
In 2008, Tich and Joan felt the call of God to start LIV (Lungisisa Indlela Village), meaning “The Right Way”, which would become an urgently needed long term foster care facility for orphaned and vulnerable children. They visited the Watoto villages in Uganda where they saw 19 years of successfully transforming broken lives. The vision was the same. They brought the model back to KwaZulu Natal.
OUR STORY
The story of LIV started in 1997 when a vision was birthed in the heart of Tich Smith, to build a village for orphaned and vulnerable children where they will have a home with a mother who loves them, food to eat, a school to educate them and where they will come to know God as their Father in heaven. Tich also dreamed of creating jobs for individuals in surrounding communities so that they can earn an income and look after their families.
Tich, along with his wife Joan, has relentlessly been pursuing this dream and LIV is now an established organisation looking after the most vulnerable of our society.
With the building of the first village in 2011, the vision became reality and the model proves to be sustainable as long as government, churches and corporates work together.
Today LIV has a national footprint with villages and projects in Durban, Gauteng, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape.
THE LIV TIMELINE
1997
The LIV vision
God gave Tich Smith, founder of LIV, a vision to build a village for orphaned and vulnerable children to have a safe home, a mother to love them, food to eat, a school to educate them, and where they will come to know God as their Father in heaven.
2001
Feeding children in Amaoti
The journey began in 2001 in Amaoti, the largest informal settlement in KwaZulu-Natal, feeding starving children, under the umbrella of Indlela, and later Lungisani Indlela.
Between 2001 and 2009, over 600 children were placed on our Back-2- School project and 27 creches and preschools were supported with teacher training and daily food.
2008
Searching for the right land
Tich and Joan felt the time was right to start the village, and spent the next 6 months looking for land to purchase.
2009
LIV is birthed in Durban
In September 2009, LIV was birthed. An 83 acre farm was purchased, north of Amaoti, next to the community of Cottonlands.
2010
LIV banquet held
In April 2010, 4000 guests from Government, Business and Churches, came together for the biggest banquet ever held at the Durban ICC to raise funds to build the first homes and LIV School, and the building of the village commenced.
2011
Our first children
Women’s Day on 9th August 2011 celebrated the arrival of the first mothers and the opening of LIV School with 6 pupils. 2011 was a year of building in many areas, including the Social Services and Homes Management, Education, Marketing and Admin departments, as well as the start of LIV Business to not only provide jobs and skills, but to also contribute towards the sustainability of the Village.
2014
The first village almost complete
96 homes, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre to cater for preschoolers, and a primary school. Teachers were supported by qualified volunteer physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists.
The LIV Social Services and Homes Management departments provided counselling for the children and guidance for the mothers, as well as recruiting and training.
2015
Multipurpose Hall completed
The Multi-purpose Hall and Admin block, which serves as the centre of village life, was completed. LIV Durban’s church services, offices, various sports and village celebrations are hosted here.
2016
New Leadership & expansion
Tich and Joan handed over the daily running of LIV Durban to the McCririe’s and Koyana’s.
LIV’s expansion began as LIV Lukhanyiso was added to the family.
2017
Community needs met
In 2017, LIV opened its LIV Owethu Community Clinic that serves the local community by meeting their primary medical and dental needs free of charge.
LIV Training is launched as the LIV Welding Academy and Culinary School open.
2018
Our first Stars & further expansion
2018 was a big year for LIV, and LIV Durban in particular, as its first class of matriculants graduated from LIV School.
We also welcomed the teams at LIV Lanseria and LIV Thokomala to our LIV family.
2020
LIV Cape Town & LIV Central
LIV Cape Town was officially registered in 2020 and we welcomed them to our family.
With the expansion of the LIV footprint, LIV Central was launched in 2020 to oversee and steward the national governance and growth of all the villages, projects and businesses of LIV. By providing a centralised support system for accountability and cost saving, this was a much needed part of our continued growth.
2022
LIV Langkloof
Our family continues to grow as we welcomed the team at LIV Langkloof to the LIV family. We are excited about the change we can bring to our communities and country as we continue to operate as a united front.
READ TICH & JOAN’S STORY
Read Tich and Joan Smith’s inspiring story of hope and healing among the most vulnerable of society. When Grace Showed Up tells the story of LIV and the amazing provision, kindness, and mercy God has shown along the way.