Bulyambebe, Zambia | Village Hope Project
October 19th Update from Bulyambebe, Zambia | Launch of our Village Hope Project
We feel that this program is an effective way for us help more orphans in Zambia without a tremendous time commitment from our partners in Zambia. We will use local leadership to administer each of the feeding stations in each village.
Our partners Mike and Linda Jones were so blessed to go out to this new area last month and interview and sit with relatives of 51 orphans. They took their scale to weigh the children and encouraged family members to continue doing a good job with these precious children. They also shopped for food, pots, water containers, plates and items needed to cook the hot meal each day.
Mike and Linda also went out on another day to witness the first day of feeding to make sure things were going to be done in the correct way. They were again so blessed to find upon their arrival a lady giving a gospel lesson and children learning a memory verse. The cook had prepared a meal of Nshema and beans. They wondering if there would be enough for the 51 children when they saw how much had been prepared, but to their surprise it was the right amount with a little bit left over. The cook has worked with Care and World Vision in her area before. It was a good portion size and the children had smiles on their faces after washing their hands and receiving their meal. As Mike and Linda watched and talked with the church leaders they saw empty plates coming back so clean they almost thought they had already washed them.
Some of these children will need help with school fees some families have been managing poorly up to now. We shared we wanted to help the ones who needed the help so that we’d work with the school on what the needs will be in January to start out the new year. Out of the 51 orphaned children, maybe 6 were under nourished and most were at the lower end of weight for their ages, but looked well physically. We are coming into our time of year when food is getting shorter until the rains come and harvest in April. Maybe we can finish this feeding program at the end of March so we will need to access the needs once again. We do have another 4 other areas to set up and work in Chief Chikanta area if it is approved.
During this initial launch, we did find a case of a child maybe 10 years old, a girl who I felt needed something special. Linda has asked the community to please check in on her and to let her know if her situation was improving. Linda asked her if she was ok and how she received an injury very near her eye. Linda saw tears and when she hugged her and prayed with her. Linda felt something wasn’t quite right. She is concerned if there might be abuse or if she is in an environment where she really isn’t wanted. Please keep this girl in your prayers -her name is Mary.
Linda was also told of a 6-month old baby who a grandmother was trying to keep alive with just porridge since her daughter died a month ago. She requested the grandmother to come to meet her so she could see the baby and maybe help with milk.
We estimate that this new program will costs as much as $12.50 per child per month, and expect to enroll 200 orphans into this program. We will be providing these children much needed nutrition, providing aid with school fees when needed, and demonstrating the love of Christ as we provide care for them.
Movement of FAITH | Voice of HOPE | Act of LOVE
Global Orphan Relief is a Christian relief agency serving Orphans in need and a recognized U.S. public charity, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.