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.

Helping Them Help Themselves

Cattle are $150 each

Goats are $25 each

Chickens are $7 each

Introducing a new way to help our families help themselves!! You may now purchase livestock for any of the families in Mazabuka!! The cattle are great for many things- hauling things to market to sell, plowing the fields for a garden, milk, meat, etc. The goats are good for milk and meat, and the chickens bring eggs and meat! Even just a few of these animals are helpful because they reproduce- It is the gift that keeps on giving!

You can order these items by sending an e-mail to macandmic@gmail.com Or, you can order on the yahoo group. I have set up a database where you can add the children you would like to get these animals for.

This is an ongoing program, so you may purchase livestock as you wish. Let's get these families set up to feed and support themselves!

Out until the Goats Come Home

This is the signal that the day is ending- the goats are coming in from the pastures. These goats are the goats that Child Hope Zambia provided to the community. Goats are extremely cherished in southern Zambia because of their many uses. It is said that if you do not have family, but you have the animals, you will survive. The goats give milk, manure (to use in the gardens), more baby goats to sell, and will be used in the traditional ceremonies when a future husband and wife decide to marry.

This wraps up the field visit from which we got so many great videos!

Where Does Your Drinking Water Come From?

This morning, when I got up out of my cozy pillow top bed, I walked across my carpeted flooring to the bathroom. Once in the bathroom, I turned the knobs on the shower until I felt the water get warm (bordering on hot). I stepped into the warm shower and felt the clean water run through my hair and down my back. I instantly felt cleaner. I, then, reached for my good smelling body wash from Bath and Body Works and lathered up. In a matter of minutes, I had turned myself into what smelled like a coconut! It is truly amazing how that simple act can lift my spirits and invigorate me!

Then, I sat down at my computer to decide what kind of post I would share with you all. There are so many great things that Child Hope Zambia has already done, and little by little, I will be sharing it with you. What to share grabbed me when I looked at the picture of the children carrying the jugs of water.

First, I will share the statistics with you. Did you know that in Zambia 20% of the deaths of the children under five are due to diarrhea!? It is hard to believe that they could die of something so preventable, but it is a reality in the poor parts of Zambia. The people in the communities get diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera all from drinking water!

It brings me back to the beginning of this post when I told you about my clean shower experience. I would like you to now picture something different. Instead of living here in the USA, I live in the southern province of Zambia. I get up in the morning and fold up the feed sack that I slept on (on the dirt floor). Then, I walk to the creek to bathe. The creek is so dirty, you can not see what is in the water, but it is my only option. So, I "clean" myself in the creek. Then, while there, grab a bucket of the water to take home for consumption.

It is no wonder that people wind up with these intestinal problems when you think of it! The water they are drinking is the same water that they clean themselves in. Children may even use the restroom in the water. Anyone who is sick is now passing on the sickness to whomever decides to drink the water. Even if they boil the water, can you imagine drinking the water? I wouldn't be able to get it down my throat!

Now, this is what CHZ has done. If you look up at the picture above, you will see something that looks like a tank. This is a borehole. A hole was dug deep into the ground until fresh water was found. Then, the water is pumped out of the well whenever it is needed. There is enough water available in each borehole to provide water for the surrounding community. All CLEAN water! This is saving children's lives every day! The clean water is used to drink, cook with, bathe in, and clean dishes and clothes. The clean water can be heated, and they can get a nice warm clean bath- I can't even imagine how this must feel for them after years of using the other water!

As supporters of Child Hope Zambia, you are supporting great changes like this!

Helping Them Help Themselves

One of the faucets of Child Hope Zambia is teaching familes how to grow the food their family needs to survive, and giving them the seeds they need to do it. This is an example of one of the gradens set up. The families use about 80% of the food grown to feed their families. The other 20% is sold at the market to earn income to pay for other necessities. The soil in much of Zambia is rich in nutrients and makes it easy to grow your own food.