The impression is sometimes given that people in Africa and other poor regions of the world are simply waiting for money to be poured in before anything can be done to alleviate some of the problems of poverty and disease.

The Orphan Day Care project at Mphongo near Mzimba shows that is often far from the case.

In 2001 Christians in the Zambesi Evangelical Church in this remote rural area became extremely concerned about the suffering in the locality especially as a result of the HIV AIDS problem and the many children it leaves as orphans. Inspired by Saulosi Chipeta, a local carpenter, they started various small schemes to raise money for a programme of orphan day care. Such children are mostly taken into the homes of relatives or friends (frequently elderly people) who are already finding it difficult to provide the necessities for their families. The principle behind the day care projects is to take the youngsters out of the home on a daily basis and provide food, education, recreation and health checks in the context of Christian teaching and care.

The programme at Mphongo progressed to the extent that the Christians were able to fire the bricks for a building to use both for the orphans and for worship. They erected the walls of a simple structure and were delighted when the area MP said she would finance the iron sheets needed for a sound roof, something which would otherwise be far beyond their means.

Children playing on swings constructed by the carpenter,
with the original building in the background

This was done but delight was quickly followed by disappointment…..the MP claimed the building for other purposes leaving ZEC without a Church and a building in which to care for the children!

Legal action was ruled out as providing a poor Christian witness and the people soon started to fire more bricks and build another building on the same patch of ground!!

It was this little structure that Jim Hasnip, Dave Brown and Colin Cresswell from Zambesi Mission together with Connex Ijalasi and Gerald Malindah of the Zambesi Evangelical Churches were able to visit in July. They found upwards of 30 young children being cared for by a number of volunteers from local Churches who cook the meals, give the teaching and provide recreation for the youngsters. The project is managed by a small board of trustees which includes Saulosi, the carpenter, and Humphrey Nkhwambala the ZEC pastor.

ZM’s Director, Jim Hasnip, talking to the children in the second
building for which we hope to provide a sound roof and concrete floor

Now Zambesi Mission here in the UK is hoping to provide a good iron roof to replace the present grass cover before the rainy season comes. A cement floor is also needed so that the building can be used for orphan care and for worship all the year round.

What a privilege to see what these good people have done …and to be able to help them to do more!!