Biographies
The major adjustments for the children have been
assuring them that they are in a safe home, with a bed of their own including
sheets, blankets, a pillow and a mosquito net, two sets of clothes, with parents
Violet and Mwala who love them, where they will have plenty of meals [3 per day]
and go to school until they have finished their education and are ready to be on
their own. All are slowly becoming
reassured that they are in a permanent home now where there is no need to steal,
sneak or beg for food ever again.
One child at a time – we are helping
make a difference.
One child at a time who will in turn help make a difference for other
Zambian children.
Meet the children in
their new home.
MELODY
BANDA:
JOSEPH CHIYUBE: Joseph was living with two grandmothers and 12 others in one room, with no running water and no electricity; blind in one eye he was teased and abused for his handicap. From a very early age he worked in the fields and sold goods at market being the main provider for the entire household. [more...]
MWALA
MWALA:
Mwala
is the 14-year-old biological son of house-parents Violet and Mr.
Mwala.
An excellent artist and student in grade 9, he is delighted to have
extended his family with the children now living in the home.
He is an excellent friend, brother and tutor to the boys and girls, with
the patience of a saint.
When Joseph first arrived, he chose the bunk above Mwala.
That first night the two spent the entire night chatting, telling stories
and laughing at jokes they told one another.
[more...]
MWAPE P. MALUBENI:
This
little 11-year-old girl arrived to Vima Lupwa home extremely malnourished and
neglected. Mwape
came
to us through the social-welfare office after it was discovered by a local
clinic that she was being sexually abused by her father and members of her
community. When just 3
months old she was diagnosed with Cerebral Malaria which caused a mental
handicap. [more...]
SHADRECK MUSONDA: Little Shadreck has now been in
the home for two years and just turned 8. He arrived extremely
malnourished. Standing about mid thigh to an average adult, he looks
as though he is only about three. When he first arrived his belly
was so large that he could barely hold himself upright. Little by little
he has gained strength and tries to keep up with the other boys when they walk
to school and when they play soccer.
BUPE KUNDA: At
13 years of age, this youngster is our beauty queen. She is constantly
redoing her hair, painting her nails with the pastel paints intended for the art
projects and eating! After years of fighting for food, she still shovels
down her meals as if someone will take it from her.
She eats about 5 times more than the others. Although she has
been physically full after each meal in our home, it seems impossible for her to
mentally feel like she is.
PERFIOUS KUNDA: This
now 13-year-old boy was living in a shanty with his very ill parents who were
suffering from TB . Due to their
severe illness they were unable to care for him.
From a very early age he has been the main provider and caretaker for his
parents. In order to bring food
home, he had been begging in the streets and was often beaten by bullies.
Due to severe malnutrition resulting in
lack of basic vitamins and minerals, his body did not grow properly, meaning he
is small for his age.
LIMBIKANI MEMBE: Now 10 years old he was living with his dying mother and five siblings in a one-room shack. If lucky, they had one meal a day which extended family members tried to provide. Prior to arriving at our home, he had never slept on a bed, but rather on the floor, huddling with his brothers and sisters to stay warm. [more...]
NALUCA
MWALA: Now
at 18, she is the oldest youngster living in the home.
As such, she takes on a parenting role getting up early every morning
before the rest of the family wakes up. After
washing herself and straightening her bed area, she sweeps the home and readies
the day for the younger siblings.
ALICK CHILEKWA: Alick
is the youngest addition to Vima
Lupwa Home: Although
LOVENESS NAWALE: This 10-year-old girl, whose father suffered from AIDS and died of tuberculosis, has also just arrived in our home. Before her father died, he had built a house where she lived with her parents and a brother. Together with his wife they sold goods in a small shop at City Market in Isoka. After his death, however, his relatives grabbed all his properties. [more...]
AGGIE CHILUSO: Aggie joined the Vima Lupwa Home just this past summer. This young 4th grade youngster loves to sing, in fact it is rare to find her not singing all the time – singing is an incredible companion for the children in Zambia and Aggie is a perfect example of this trend. [more...]
MUCHEMWA
and RUTHIE: Muchemwa
came to Luanshya pregnant at 15 years old. She had little baby Ruthie a little
less than a year ago and recently came to live us. [more...]
MWABA
MULEMBA: Ten-year-old
Mwaba only recently started