Lisa Lovatt-Smith gave up her highfalutin career in fashion to volunteer at an orphanage in Ghana in the mid 2000s. Little did she know that she would find an entirely new world in which to operate – one where she was needed and could make a substantial, life changing difference. She sold everything, started the aid organisation OAfrica and put her skills to use changing the lives of countless orphans.
I’m liking
This book presents an interesting look at what happens on a day to day basis in an African orphanage. You get to experience the sad realities narrated from a certain naivety (the result of spending one’s life amongst the rich and famous) – and it’s an interesting juxtaposition. Initially the author tries her best to see people in the best light, given what they do for children. However the truth unfolds to reveal a very different scene. Often orphanages have been set up by well meaning individuals who see a problem, but the follow through is sadly lacking and what the institutions can transform into when outside input is withdrawn is honestly horrific. Your heart will beat for the children you read about in this book, and you will wonder what you can do to help the plight of abandoned children. It’s obvious she quite rightly wants to raise further funds for OAfrica so more work can be done.
Things that made me go hmmmm
To be honest, you can skip the whole fashion world section (first third) if that isn’t your scene. There’s a lot of name dropping of people you will likely have never heard of. Some of those names come back as OAfrica supporters. The book is a bit of a strange hybrid of those two parts of her life – the fashion and the mud hut. The common theme however, is how the author used hard work, resilience and tenacity to achieve a great deal.
The last chapter just came out of no where and socket punched me into shock! I mean there are some extremely uncomfortable circumstances that you read about in a book about transforming broken, mismanaged orphanages in a corrupt culture. But in the last part of this book you’re thrown into an extremely violent, awful personal attack on Lovatt-Smith and her family that I did not see coming, and I found it very strange the way it was placed last in the book. An odd Editorial decision that I think negatively impacts the book as a whole.
The conclusion
This is an interesting read. I really enjoyed the sophisticated style of writing, though it at times appears slightly impersonal. The inherent problems with ‘the orphanage’ as a system caring for children will be of interest to anyone with a passion for social justice. It’s worth a read if you like biographies and a touch of inspiration from someone who’s given their life to better the life of others.
Who Knows Tomorrow: From High Fashion to a Mud Hut is published by Random House and has an RRP of $39.99.
