At the Kabwata Orphanage and Transit Centerin Zambia, Bread and Water for Africa® longtime partner Angela Miyanda take in the county’s most vulnerable – its orphans and destitute children.
Her immediate priority lies in the present – to address any health issues ranging from malnutrition to AIDS/HIV, then get them fed, clothed, and sheltered in the new place they will be loved and grow to call home.
Once they are healthy and happy, that’s when Angela can begin to take the long view of ensuring that the boy or girl will have the education necessary to become a successful adult and put the poverty of their childhood in the past.
2017 is the year that brought a great sense of achievement for both Angela and seven children under her care.
“Seven children who grew up in the home have successfully completed their high school education and are ready for college,” she told us.
And that is a remarkable achievement in a country where few actually graduate from high school, and fewer still have the opportunity to go to college.
For Angela, it’s never too late to start a child or youth on the path of education.
Such was the case for Joseph, who came to Kabwata at age 18.
“Joseph is an orphan and has been living in a compound with relatives,” she told us. “He had never attended any school until now but he passed with excellent results to get into a new, senior secondary school.”
Angela also makes sure that children who arrive at Kabwata with special needs also get the best education possible to suit their abilities.
Emmanuel was just 2 years old when he arrived at Kabwata and in just one short year much has changed in the young boy’s life.
“His mother is mentally sick and used to feed Emmanuel with food from the trash bins,” said Angela. “He had already developed signs of mental challenges.
“However, today, Emmanuel has improved for the better and will be starting preschool in two weeks.”
In addition, thanks to the supporters of Bread and Water for Africa®, Angela is able to help ensure there are actually teachers at the schools attended by Kabwata children.
The Amali School in the village of Kaweza serves 80 students from preschool to second grade and “is manned by two teachers, namely Mr. Chama and myself,” wrote Kondwani Shezongo.
He described the many challenges he and his colleague face, not the least of “the inability by parents to make payments for their children due to poverty levels which are high in our area.
“Our only source of income as teachers is the monthly allowances we get from the Kabwata Orphanage of 1300 kwacha per month,” he told us, which amounts to less than $135.
And Mr. Shezongo had good news for the future, saying “I wish to report that on a positive note we have seen tremendous interest by both parents and pupils in education which is a good sign for development.
“In my conclusion, I wish to thank Mrs. Miyanda and the entire orphanage group of Kabwata for the tireless efforts they have been lending to us the teachers which gives us the strength to want to see our community change for the better.”
As for Angela, these are the words she left us to pass on to you, our loyal and generous supporters:
“The program was born of love and compassion for suffering children. Today, the vision is beyond imagination because of the assistance it has rendered to many different groups of people.
“It’s a place of refuge and also a ladder to step on for those with an ability to achieve their dreams.”
