wfn.org | New `Crisis Nursery' in Zambia Brings Hope to Orphans

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

8-December-1999 
99409 
 
    New `Crisis Nursery' in Zambia Brings Hope to Orphans 
 
    U.S., Zambian Presbyterians among those working on project 
 
    by Nancy Warlick 
    PC(U.S.A.) mission co-worker in Zimbabwe 
 
LUSAKA, Zambia - What excitement was in the air on Sept. 22,  the morning 
of the dedication and opening of the New Kanyama Crisis Nursery (CN) in 
Lusaka! 
 
    So many people  had worked together with the Christian Alliance for 
Children in Zambia (CACZ) to make this important  project a  reality. Bill 
(Warlick) and I had driven up the day before from Harare, Zimbabwe, to 
participate in the event. 
 
    A crisis nursery is a short-term "safe home" for infants and children 
under five years of age who have been orphaned, abandoned or are in a 
crisis situation. 
 
    Sandra Levinson and Jennie Woods, of the Alliance for Children 
Everywhere, and the Rev. Baldwin Kandinda, a Presbyterian pastor from 
Zambia who is the project coordinator, have worked non-stop since July to 
get the Crisis Nursery ready. Their efforts have paid off, and their dream 
has become a reality. 
 
    What a joy it was to help dedicate the Crisis Nursery to the glory of 
God! This project is a model of what true unity is all about and shows what 
can happen when Christians work together (across denominational lines) with 
those in the secular arena. 
 
    One of those present for the dedication was Florence Mwayopa, the new 
chair of CACZ who works with the Anglican Street Children project in 
Lusaka. During the ceremony, she said, "Today we have seen John 17 in 
action, and the unity which Jesus spoke about." She added that  no single 
group of Christians could have accomplished the opening the New Kanyama 
Crisis Nursery in Lusaka. 
 
     From the very beginning of the Crisis Nursery project,  the unity of 
spirit and togetherness which we have seen among the various Christian 
denominations represented in CACZ has truly been an inspiration. The choice 
of the house and the area where  the Crisis Nursery is located was agreed 
upon because the Salvation Army has a strong mission in Kanyama. 
 
    Salvation Army officers Brighton and Angela Hotchapikta, happy to 
participate in a worthwhile, ecumenical project in this very poor area of 
the Zambian capital, actually found the house and helped the staff get it 
ready for the opening. 
 
    We are pleased that Presbyterians have been very involved in all of 
this, and that Rev. Kandinda is the project coordinator. Funding for the 
purchase and renovation of the house, and for operations, came from the 
PC(USA). What a wonderful partnership this is, joining Presbyterians in 
Zambia with Presbyterians in the U.S.A., and linking us with other 
denominations. To God be the glory! 
 
    Also present for the dedication was a special little baby, 1 « years of 
age, named Landwani Mhango who was being helped by Rev. Kandinda. Landwani 
has been identified as an "at-risk" child because his mother died several 
months ago and his father is an alcoholic. Landwani, who was being 
neglected by the father and other family members, is not a healthy baby, 
and appears much younger than he really is. Sadly, the father won't give 
permission for Landwani to be taken into the CN and cared for properly. 
 
    Please pray for little Landwani. 
 
    As of Oct. 3, the CN had taken in four children. We have received 
reports on three of these precious little ones: 
 
    * Robert James, who is three and lost his mother 3 months ago.  He was 
staying with a older lady in the compound who couldn't care for him.  He 
was so dull and listless that he  had to be finally admitted to the 
hospital. 
 
    * Two sisters, one under two years of age, the other perhaps 6, who 
were left by the roadside by their mother. They were being cared for 
temporarily in a compound arranged through the YWCA. 
 
    What sad cases these are! How glad we are that all of these children 
could be brought to the wonderful staff of the CN. Please pray for these 
little ones and for Rev. Kandinda and his staff as they reach out to help 
needy children. 
 
    With the terrible HIV-AIDS pandemic affecting Zambia and the rest of 
Africa, there will be more and more children in need of the help available 
at the Crisis Nursery. 
 
    In a December 1997 report, Zambia's Ministry of Health/Central Board of 
Health estimated that the number of maternal and double orphans in the 
country will have risen from 20,000 in 1990 to more than 500,000 next year 
and to one million by the year 2010. 
 
    The children brought to the CN will receive temporary care until 
extended family, or a foster/adoptive family, can be found and trained. The 
nursery is assisted by many local community members and organizations. 
 
    The CACZ hopes the New Kanyama Crisis Nursery Project will be 
replicated by other agencies in Zambia and neighboring countries.   

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