Meet Paris from Cyprus! Part 1

The children arrived in Simwaba again today to meet with a young man from Cyprus.  The high school boy named Paris raised funds to purchase clothes, shoes, footballs, and mealie meal for the children.  He met with them today and took pictures.  He will be taking these photos back with him to Cyprus to encourage more donors. 

It is always heart-warming to see young people making a difference in the world!!  This young man put a lot of smiles on the faces of the children.  Thank you, Paris!

By the way, the other man with the fooball jersey is Paris' uncle Nikki.  He was there to help Paris fulfill his mission.  They will be in Zambia until the 6th of September and then head back to Cyprus.  Have a safe trip!!  Thank you for thinking of our children!!

Excitement in Simwaba

Visitors are always welcomed and it turns into quite an event.  Here, all of the children were clamoring to see the UNICEF workers.  If you are planning a visit to see the children, this is what you can expect.  A terrific welcoming committee!!

Message to US Sponsors

Child 1194 above

Dear Colleagues,

We were so sorrowful and confounded to read and watch the Hurricane Irene that struck America. Please accept our condolences on the tragic death of the people who were trapped by Hurricane Irene and the victims whose homes were left in pieces. You are all in our prayers and we believe that God will comfort those who were affected and lost their beloved ones due to the Hurricane Irene.

In sympathy,

CHILDHOPE-ZAMBIA

Welcoming UNICEF

This picture shows all of the community members that met up at the Simwaba ECCDE center to welcome UNICEF.   =)

Keeping the Sick Alive!

Here is a photo of donations that were sent to feed the terminally ill.  Wow!  This is going to do a lot of good in the community!  This mealie meal has been distributed to sponsored and unsponsored families affected by HIV.  Thank you!!!

Thank You, UNICEF!! Part 3

Bicycles were donated to the community by UNICEF.  These will aid in the many daily activities that the community leaders participate in, including getting to families to check on their well-being.  If you saw the video during the rainy season, you know that bicycles are beneficial for carrying heavy bulky items back and forth.  Thank you, UNICEF!!

Thank You, UNICEF!! Part 2

Check out this playground equiptment that was donated by UNICEF!!  Won't the children be surprised when they get back from holiday!?   Swings, a slide, a merry-go-round, and a see saw!  By the way, the equiptment was installed in Simwaba... Which means that the children will be able to play during distribution, too!!!  Yay for the children!  Thank you, UNICEF!!

Thank you, UNICEF!!! Part 1

A UNICEF convoy arrived in Mazabuka yesterday.  The Zambian staff was there to great them.  They were there to drop off some donations.  Remember I told you that most of the families are on vacation? Well, the Preschool children are going to be in for a BIG surprise when they return to school at the beginning of September!!  I will post pictures of the surprise in the next post later this afternoon. 

Children Receiving Gifts

Emeldah 150 above and Cornwell 495 below

Agness 886 above and Mukwisa 887 below

Esther Mutinta below

As we already knew from a few weeks ago, most of our families are on holiday and not in their homes.  Chim and the Zambia team brought items for the few children and women that remained behind.  These are the last of these kinds of photos.  Nearly everyone was on vacation, so we will be getting tons of pictures at the upcoming distribution.  In fact, distribution will be so large, we will have over 300 children present as well as women in our women's program and some of their family members.  This could mean 500+ people at next distribution.  It will take 3 to 4 days to distribute everything to everyone!!! 

Mangunje IGP Distribution Part 2

Translation:
I asked the man in the video the relationship he had with the boy and he told me that the boy in the picture was the son. I asked him how he felt about Mangunje receiving the chickens. He told me that he was very happy and so was Mangunje.  He told me that the chickens would help Mangunje sustain himself for a long time. He thanked the sponsors for the good work and encouraged them to continue helping the boy.

Mangunje IGP Distribution Part 1

Translation:
The man in the video says is the father/guardian to Mangunje. He says he is grateful for the support the boy is receiving from the sponsors. He says the distribution of livestock to Mangunje will sustain his life. He said that he can not express in words just how grateful he is.  He is appealing to the sponsors to continue helping Mangunje since their contribution has already started yielding fruits. The man wished the sponsors more of God’s blessings.

Prima Stove Distribution Part 3

Translation:
The lady in the video told me that she was Clara Cheelo. She told me that her children were supposed to receive the kerosene stove with her but they were all out for holiday. The lady said she was so happy to receive the stove together as a family. She said the stove would help prepare the children’s food on time before they go to school. The lady says she is so grateful for the sponsors who purchased the stove.

Chinyama with her Chicken

Translation:
I asked the lady in the video the relationship she had with the girl. She told me that the girl in the picture was her daughter. Asked her how happy she was for the daughter to receive the chicken. The lady said that she was thankful for the donation on behalf of the sponsors. She said that the letters that sponsors wrote to the children were very exciting such that each time the letter comes she is anious to open it and read it.

Prima Stove Distribution Part 2

I asked the lady in the video what her name was and she told me that she was Regina Ngandu. I asked her how she felt after receiving the Kerosene stove. She told me that she was very grateful because the stove will make cooking in the house easier. She told me that the sponsor is the father and mother to her (meaning that they care for her as parents would). She told me that she did not know that she would ever be a part of a sponsorship program.  It makes her life easier. 

Prima Stove Distribution

This is the only video and photo I was able to receive from Zambia today because of their internet connectivity.  As you can see, the stoves are very much appreciated!

Translation:
The lady in the video said that her name is Hansingu (last name). The grandmother to Ronah Nyirenda. I asked her how she felt to have received the Kerosene stove. She told me that she was very happy to receive the stove because it would help her prepare something for the grand child to eat before she goes to school. She told me that she was very grateful to the sponsor who did this and encouraged her to continue supporting her and the family. She told me that the stove came at the right time when firewood was scarce in the community.

Victoria Falls

What Makes a Family?

In Zambia, family is not just your mother, father, brothers and sisters.  It includes cousins (that are usually referred to as brothers and sisters if they live in the same house) and uncles and aunts (that are usually referred to as mum and dad if in the same house).  Grandparents can, also, live with the family.  How awesome would that be to have all of your relatives surrounding you!  Everyone working and serving each other to make the household work!

“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.”

Marian Wright Edelman (born 1939);

Troubles

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”  Dr. Suess

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

986 Anita Hameenka

970 Monica Mweene

That's what little girls are made of... These sweet girls are from a community known for its sweetness!!  Mazabuka is known for its sugar production =)  If you would like to sponsor one of these preschool girls, go to www.mwanahopezambia.com and search by their ID numbers.  Then, click on "Sponsor Me!" 

Chores in Zambia- Working the Garden

Aren't these little ones so cute!!  Even the little ones help with the chores in Zambia.

Items for Distribution- Fold Up Mattresses

More items for distribution.  Here are at fold up mattresses =)

Items for Distribution

Here are some pictures of some of the items that have been purchased by the sponsors.  The picture at the top is the Primastove.  More items are being purchased all this month in preparation for a combined distribution at the beginning of September. 

Chim and team are headed to Mazabuka next Tuesday to distribute some of the items and take photos and videos of the families that did not go on vacation for school holiday. 

Contract Signing

Here is a photo of the contract signing that took place at the Holiday Inn in Lusaka.  The European Union has partnered with CHILDHOPE to bring much needed supplies to the people in the southern province.  Included in this are the areas of Mazabuka, Monze, Choma, and Kalomo. 

Part of this contract includes a company called Sight Savers.  You can find them on the web here:   http://zm.sightsavers.org/  That link will lead you directly to the Zambia specific program.  We have many children and family members suffering with eye problems.  These supplies will help save their eye sight before it's too late.  Yay!!!