[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Cooledge.jpg” caption=”Gord Cooledge poses in La Piazza. “]In a small office offside the kitchen in the back of La Piazza, sits Gord Cooledge. He talks passionately about his life in just over a month, one that will change dramatically when he lands in Harare, Zimbabwe, to foster hope in a land that has lost millions to AIDS.

On August 31, the executive chef at McMaster, will leave for Africa with his wife Anita and three adopted children Nathan, 13, Benny, 11 and Latasha, 9. For at least four years, they will oversee the development of the Village of Hope, a community for 200 orphaned children who have lost their families to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The journey Cooledge will make with his family is a long time coming. “We always knew that someday we would do something with orphans,” he says. “But we never knew it would be so soon. We don't really know what we're walking into; we just know that this is what we need to do.”

Cooledge, who has worked at McMaster since 1992, co-ordinating all the food services at the University, from catering to onsite restaurants, began looking for missionary work opportunities on the Web about a year ago when he found the posting for a director of the Village of Hope. He applied for the opportunity in the fall of 2003 and following several panel interviews, intensive training, visits to churches educating congregations on the needs of Africa's orphans, raising funds for the village, and obtaining their required immunizations, they are ready to embark on the journey.

Although the contract is for four years, Cooledge suspects the commitment will be much longer. “It's a four-year commitment, but we plan on being there forever. Many projects take much longer, usually five or six years and then you have to maintain it.”

As director of the facility, Cooledge will oversee the day-to-day operations of the 20-acre secured property, including administration, budgeting, hiring and training, and setting a vision for the future. The Village of Hope contains 18 homes, a preschool, a primary and secondary school, a church and a medical facility. Currently, there are four buildings on site, and an elementary school and 14 more children's homes will be constructed. Cooledge also will oversee teams of workers from Canada who will help build facilities.

He will also help expand a small agricultural project of chickens and vegetables, which provides food and a source of revenue for the village.

Of the 13 million people living in Zimbabwe, one million have AIDS, Cooledge says. “It's a huge problem. In Zimbabwe, a lot of people just assume that one day they'll get AIDS and die. We want to change that and give them some hope, which is why the village is called the Village of Hope. Many children in Africa watch their parent's die. The need in Africa is so phenomenally huge that all we can do is help one person at a time and do what we can.”

He is confident they will help make a difference. After all, he has seen the difference he has made in the lives of his adopted children Benny and Latasha. “We have seen them grow into warm, loving kids. Our hope and our prayer for the Village of Hope is that we will train the next generation of leaders for the country which now is so politically unstable and an economy which is in shambles.”

He adds: “This is a way for me to serve God and help the kids. We have a strong love for orphans and we know the difference we can make if we can give them a chance.”

The McMaster community is invited to attend a farewell gathering for Cooledge on Friday, July 29 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at East Meets West Bistro in the Mary E. Keyes Residence.