Report from BHW Zambia Partnership Facilitators Following Visit

Key people:  Rebecca Kaumba, Elizabeth and Mwila

Recent Events

Orphans Program

As of now 12 orphans have finished Grade 12 - seven boys and five girls. Most of them have temporary jobs or piece work while they try to raise funds to go to college. Elizabeth and Mwila are still visiting these children twice a year to see how they are getting on and continue to encourage them in the word of God.

16 children are currently in school ranging from Grade 3 to Grade 12. They still come around to Elizabeth’s home and are taught the word of God, play different games, and are taught how to keep a good house, like washing dishes, cleaning the house etc, and how to respect elders and be polite. 

They also visit the orphans in their homes to see how life is for them. They put aside part of the funds they receive for small household items such as soap and washing powder as they see the need. 

Farming and Guardian Empowerment

Fertilizer prices have nearly doubled this year with a 50 kg bag worth ZMK400 (US$40). Farmers are struggling to afford this so are even more interested in Foundations for Farming and learning about manure and compost.

This year Elizabeth harvested 40 bags from her field.

They want to run a training course for Foundations for Farming this year for 16 guardians and have been approved the funds to do so (US$200). Evans Doygie from Kamatipa (ZAM10a) will also attend.

Personal Stories

Dominic Mwewa

Dominic is 18 years old and is in Grade 12. He is really looking forward to finishing school at the end of this year. He attends Chikola Secondary School which he says is a good school and the teachers treat the students well. His favourite subjects are biology, chemistry, English and maths. He would like to study to be a doctor and become a physio.

He lives with his mother as his dad passed away when his mum was pregnant with him. He has been with the Lulamba program for 12 years, going from Grade 1 to Grade 12.

His favorite thing to do is play basketball which he does with his friends. He attends CMML church where he likes to hear the word of God.

His mum has a charcoal business and also sells beans but it is slow. She used to have a farm away from the city but she got sick and scared of witchcraft in the bush areas so doesn't go there anymore.

Patience Chanda

Patience is 12 years old and in Grade 7. Her mum died when she was giving birth to her and so now she lives with her grandmother and her uncle.

The grandmother farms maize, beans, sweet potatoes and popcorn in the wet season and travels 28 km to the farm for the entire season. Then the uncle stays with her, his job is a bricklayer when he can find work.

Her favorite food is sweet potato and they eat two meals most days. She likes to help out around the home doing dishes and cleaning the yard.

Her church is CMML where she likes to worship God. She tells us that every day and night she prays to God to thank him for even just the air that she can breathe. Recently she has been learning that God is more powerful than Satan.

She thanks the people who are helping her into school and prays that God will bless you so you can continue to help vulnerable people.

Humphrey Bwalya

Humphrey is 8 years old and in Grade 4. He likes school and wants to learn as much as he can there. He likes all the subjects and doesn’t have a favourite.

He lives with his grandma, as his father passed away. His mum is living and working in another town (Kitwe) but he doesn’t know where as he hasn’t seen her for a long time.

The grandmother farms groundnuts and maize and he loves to eat groundnuts. He sweeps the yard as his chore for his grandma.

His church is United Zambian Church. He likes bible quiz and Sunday school. He plays football.

When he finishes school he would like to go to college so he can learn about becoming a miner.

Plans for the Future

To see how they can help the guardians in farming and continue with the orphans program as they are investing in these vulnerable children by visiting and encouraging them.

Comments

We also visited with Rebecca at Amano School. She is doing well at the school but wonders how long she will be able to stay there. If she leaves the likelihood is that she will move away to where she has a plot of land to build a house to retire in. If this happens she may not be involved in the partnership to the same extent anymore.

It was awesome to see these ladies again who continue to just carry on with what they are carrying on with.