WOR | Silembe Update 06 Apr 2008

We received an update from our team in Zambia today in reference to our Silembe project; be blessed:

Got the curtain rods, and curtains up today.

The boys are happy.

All of the walls and ceilings have been painted.

I finally got the grill. This is not how it goes. I was going over the installation with Golden. Finally, this wall will start going up Monday.

All 6 houses should be able to cook at the same time with plenty of room. Hot water will be a bi-product.

I'm happy with the sinks. As soon as I get the stoppers for the drain plugs, which were not available previously, I'll finish testing. I expect them to work great.



The delay in getting rocks to pour the concrete and the delay in getting the grill left little work to be done while the slab cures. So Golden got them to dig the 3rd house foundation, just to stay busy. I kept the workers on the clock because we need them for the 2nd house and kitchen/laundry to finish quickly, which will begin Monday.

The boys have plenty of things to play with and explore. The water from our hand pump is clearing up. It's about half way to former clearness. Only a small amount of water is still coming out of the ground. The septic tank hole remains full.

The slab was poured Wednesday. The walls and plaster will be finished within 2 weeks. If you want ceilings done after the walls, let me know and I'll get the materials. The window frames (made locally, so not all the same) were measured again today. I'll order the glass (cut here in Kalomo) on Monday and make that 3rd bank withdrawal. More beds, mattresses, and solar equipment(for 2nd house) should be picked up Friday in Livingstone.

The kids enjoy playing and learning with Mama Jo. I think Mama Jo enjoys it more than the kids.

The house and Kitchen/Laundry should only have small jobs remaining. I could probably have the next house roofed before we depart for the States this June 14th, or I could slow the work down by cutting down on workers, or I cold stop the work after finishing what we are now doing, or I could stock material like cement, window & door frames, roofing, etc. for the next building. If much work should happen while I'm in the States I'll need to start stocking materials soon.

God Bless,
from Mike & Team

Family is best place for orphans, vulnerable children

The Daily Times
Malawi's Premier Daily

BY The Daily Times
13:13:55 - 01 April 2008

The extended family system that is practice in Malawi is sometimes vilified for the simple reason of rampant poverty in the country as members of this far reaching unit, including orphans, end up sharing the meagre resources that they have.

But this extended family system-where members who are relatives of the same clan or family group live interdependently-remains the best home for growing orphans and vulnerable children.

It is a known fact that various diseases including HIV/Aids pandemic, and other unfortunate circumstances, have created phenomenal numbers of orphans in the country. Our society is virtually struggling to grapple with this predicament.

This predicament has seen the mushrooming of various institutions called orphanages which want to absorb these orphans from the society.

Read More..........

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I am concerned that the author of the above article is generalizing in their commentary. While I have not been blessed to visit Malawi, I do believe that the conditions there are similar to what you might find in Zambia. I have been honored to visit Zambia numerous times, and am involved in building an Orphanage there called House of Faith Orphanage. Please consider the following.

I have had the opportunity to visit with these extended families –as mentioned in this paper, and in the very rural areas of Zambia. I happen to agree with the above article in that the best place for these children are in a home with their extended family, however, many times these extended families are not willing or just can't support these children.

Let me give you an example of a boy we'll call Jones. We were invited to visit him by his extended family, to consider that he may be received into our House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia. The young boy was being cared for by a young girl, I would guess she was 19, and he hadn't been attending school. This young girl was also caring for three younger children of her own. Jones had been the responsibility of his uncle for the last several years -with both of his parents passing. Jones has an older brother of 12 years of age, but his family never suggested that he live at the orphanage. Do you know why the older boy was never mentioned to us? The family didn't want to lose the service of the family shepherd boy. Not that we could have accepted him (we never made an assessment), but isn’t it interesting that family decided that it was in their best interest to keep the older brother. This 12 year boy will have limited options, little if any education, and his future will consist of working with livestock in his local community for the rest of his days. Now if he chooses to do this, that's his business, however, is this future really his choice?

So, let's say that this family's issue was only financial, how would any accountability take place -a distribution of additional resources to this family? Conversely, can't an Orphanage be much like a traditional home, with local people having the responsibility for caring for these children?

I have read that over 60% of Zambian homes are involved in caring for an Orphan. With this many homes, dispersed over a large area, how could resources be effectively distributed and accounted for? In addition, why can this Orphanage care take place in the local communities, which will allow for some oversight?

I don't think the answers are black and white, and the options available will be dependent on the local environment in which these underprivileged children live.

I do believe that our goal should be to allow these children to live versus just exist -by whatever means is effective. Unfortunately, I have also visited what I thought to be -less than proficient Orphanages.

See http://www.worldorphanrelief.org/ for more information in the House of Faith Orphanage.

Fund-raisers cash to help orphans

the evening Telegraph

Published Date: 03 April 2008
Source: Peterborough ET
Location: Peterborough

ORPHANED children in Kenya will benefit from the latest fund-raising efforts by the Peterborough Ortons Rotary Club.

Around £600 has been raised in recent months for the Indi-Project, run by Julie Perry from Peterborough, and the money will go towards building classrooms and facilities such as toilets, kitchens and staffrooms.

Social worker Mrs Perry has dedicated three years to building a nursery in the village of Timboni and helping orphaned children there.

John O’Halloran from the Rotary Club said: “I bumped into Julie’s husband and asked for some more information about the project and asked what people could do to help. I helped collect old mobile phones and the first amount we raised was £400.”

Read More........

Afghan girl, 10, leads ragtag group of orphans to Canadians for medical help

THE CANADAIN PRESS
1 DAY AGO

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — From down a dusty path reputed to be the second-most dangerous road in the world, a heart-wrenching sight emerged to greet Canadian soldiers Thursday - a group of orphaned children led by a girl of no more than 10 came in search of medical care.

The girl, an emerald-green scarf around her head, carried a toddler in her arms as they made their way tentatively toward a police sub-station manned by Canadian soldiers and Afghan police officers, in the heart of the treacherous Panjwaii district, birthplace of the Taliban.

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House of Faith Orphanage | Silembe Update

We heard late last week from our Orphanage Director, Jo Anne Byrum, and I was overwhelmed so many different emotions. We have two new boys at HOFO -bringing our total to four and we just opened just over two weeks ago now. The following is an edited version of her update:

March 28th 2008 - Hello everyone, I am back out from the bush. God has sent us two more boys!

Lovemore is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade. He can say his ABC's, but when I use flash cards he could not read them. The numbers he only could say if they were in order up to ten after that he was lost. So we have a big job ahead of us, but I am sure that we'll get there. God will increase their knowledge as we begin to use the resources that God has given to us.

Lovermore comes from a place close to the children's home. I asked the Uncle what was in his diet, and he replied "nshemia" -which is the staple food there, a sort of corn meal mix. I ask what else what kind of veggies, and he said pumpkin leaves. So I then got direct with my questions and asked whether he has been eating groundnuts, beans, kapenta, eggs, chicken, beef, or fish? The Uncle replied fish sometimes..... All these food are high in protein and include the necessary vitamins which he needs to grow and he is not eating any of them. No one in this house is eating much protein.......

Now as I asked about Lovemore's health I found out that some times he swells, and he runs a fever. He has some type of skin disorder on his legs going up to his abdomen. I think he may have scabies, but am not sure. I will go to the chemist(pharmacy) and see if they have anything to treat him with. He looks underweight. I don't have a scale so I don't know for sure. He also has scaring on the right eye. I ask what the Doctor had said about these things and I was told that he has never seen the Doctor. I have no Under-Five card for him so I will try to see what vaccines I can get for him.

Now Blessing is the other young boy. He is 5 years old. His mother died in 2005 and he has been living with his grandmother. The Grandmother has 7 other children she is taking care of. He was brought to the house by his Uncle. Blessing's village is far away from the children's home. The Uncle who brought him is the headman's brother of the village we live in. The Uncle was unable to give much info about Blessing as far as his eating habits or health. I can see that he has had a diet that has been lacking. He is small and underweight also. His skin look well and no sores can be seen. He has warmed up quiet quickly with the books and flash cards. Blessing has been exposed to some teaching as he was able to see and say numbers to 10. He repeated everything I said. When reading 'Put Me In The Zoo', he would say everything I said. I think he will learn fast! He is showing no shyness.

So God has given us 4 boys and they are all wonderful guys. Olick the baby is doing very well and even likes me! He is now laughing and learning to have time on the mat with a few toys instead of being on the back all the time. He has attached himself to Elizabeth (our house mother). They have bonded very well. Sibajane enjoyed being able to tell and help the new boys with getting settled in.

So please pray for the children and their health. Also, pray for Elizabeth and her daughter Muntina. I will also ask for prayer for the parts for the truck to be found so I can have a truck to drive. It has been in the shop for a month now because they can not get a master cylinder for the breaks. Seems the truck is Australian made and they are having a hard time with finding that part.

Your Servant in Jesus the Messiah,, Jo Anne <><

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We are so grateful to have Jo Anne in Silembe fulfilling her call to serve Orphans and for allowing World Orphan Relief's work there to be in good hands.

Amen.

Local residents leave on mission of mercy

Posted By By Joyce Cassin
Posted 1 day ago

John Adamson of Cobourg is a man on a mission, and he and his wife Cindy are joining 14 others on a trip to South Africa to assist approximately 1,000 orphans.

"We are going to provide help for orphans at the Centre for Leadership (C4L) in White River, South Africa," Mr. Adamson said before departing on Sunday.

He said they heard of the centre through retired doctor Bob Stephens of Warkworth, whose son Chuck is the chief executive officer of C4L, and decided to help. The younger Mr. Stephens's wife Heather, is also a key resource person there.

They will be working at the Centre for Leadership's psycho-social support camp for orphans and vulnerable children.

They have been collecting clothing, school supplies, bedsheets, shoes and others items from local businesses and individuals, and each member of the group planned to take three suitcases filled with supplies and one for themselves.

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Back from Lushoto

Brandy Robinson
Tuesday April 01, 2008

For some the visit to Lushoto was an opportunity to see some familiar faces and for others it was a first hand look at the devastation poverty and AIDS has had on an African community.

Community Foundation representative Jeannette Vatter along with Hearts for Lushoto representative Barbara Matheson, accompanied the municipal delegation that included director of information services and economic development Nesen Naidoo, Coun. Kyle Archer and his wife Sheryll, and town office executive assistant Kristina Vallee, to Lushoto mid March. The delegation went to discuss municipal issues relevant to the ongoing partnership between the communities.

The partnership with Lushoto began as a municipal twinning project, funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Canada International Development Agency.The partnership began in 2004 and was designed to teach principles of transparent governance. Since that time delegations from both communities have made several visits to one another’s country.

Although Vatter and Matheson accompanied the delegation their agenda led them to discuss education; specifically AIDS education and adoption laws.

Vatter, who has been to Lushoto previously, has seen some tremendous milestones reached by the community. “There has been some noticeable differences; the community has hired an AIDS co-ordinator to provide education to schools, and the Lushoto orphanage is going ahead very strong,” says Vatter. AIDS and malaria had a devastating effect on the adult population leaving many children orphans. “It was like a whole generation was depleted because of the AIDS epidemic,” says Vatter.

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