Zambia

Zambia, a completely landlocked country in southern Africa, is renowned for its kind-hearted people and welcoming culture. Though the country has experienced more peace than most African nations, it has not found economic prosperity, namely due to the mid-1990s market collapse of its major natural resource, copper. The people of Zambia suffer many economic hardships, which contribute to its having one of the world’s most devastating HIV/AIDS epidemics.

Zambia was the location of Hands at Work’s first expansion outside of South Africa. In 2001, Hands at Work entered the northern Copperbelt region of Luanshya and spread soon after to the Central region of Kabwe. Subsequently, the work has expanded to many communities surrounding Kabwe and Luanshya and plans are underway to move into the eastern region of Chipata and west into Mongu. Zambia is a geographically strategic location, from which expansion is happening into very poor communities in DRC, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

Let us give

Written by Sheila Mwanza, 18-years-old and a teacher in Breakthrough Care Community School in Mulenga, Zambia. As Sheila volunteers her time to teach primary school students who cannot afford to attend government schools, she finds herself learning and growing as well.

“Benjamin, 6, is in my class. He lives with his grandmother who does not work and struggles to care for him. Both of his parents died of HIV/AIDS, leaving him and 2 older brothers, who now live with their uncle. I’m afraid that Benjamin is also infected with the same disease as his parents.

Can you imagine a 6 year old child starting to take ARVs and then be on them for the rest of his life? Like all of us, this child did not decide into which family he would be born, but God decided, and I believe He does not make mistakes. He puts us into a family of His choice for a purpose.

You know, when I see this child, I see God himself. I see the goodness of God and I see so much potential for this child. I’m sure God will provide, in His own time. But as far as I’m concerned, God works through us. Let us accept the life that we have been given and reach out to others to see our world changed by the power of God’s hand through us. God doesn’t ask us to give what we don’t have but to offer whatever we have. To this vulnerable child we can give love, food, shelter, clothes, blankets, or scripture.

Can you imagine a child who is taking ARVs every day without eating anything? Without a blanket to warm him, without proper clothing? Benjamin isn’t the only one facing these challenges. There are many orphans who have similar sad stories. Let us help them, let us draw close to them, and let us make them our friends, our own children, and let us who are able support and care for them.

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