Moses’s Story
Imagine you are a seventh grade student, working your hardest to learn well and get ahead in life. Yet each day you go to school, you do so hungry and not knowing if you will have enough that day or tomorrow to eat. Your dad has been dead for years and you have been raised by your poor grandparents since you were two. They work hard but struggle to provide enough food or th clothes and resources needed for school. What will your future be? Will you grow up with no better future than your current experience?
Such is the true experience of eleven year old Moses Mushe, a seventh grader at Manvule Primary School in Mulobela village.
Moses is now receiving help from the Zambian Mission Project orphan care ministry. The goal is not only to provide nutritious food, adequate clothing, and resources for school, but also to teach Moses how to grow his own food in a productive way and also to learn a trade by which he can support himself and his family.
The goal also is for Moses to see how followers of Jesus Christ love him because God loves him and offers eternal life and rich joy to him through Jesus Christ.
Margaret’s Story: A Young Girl with a Determined Heart
At just 9 years old, Margaret is learning that life can require courage and responsibility at a very young age. She lives with her mother, who suffered a stroke and now needs help with many daily activities around the home. As a young daughter, Margaret has stepped in to help her mother with household chores and care, while still attending school and keeping up with her own education.
Recently, Margaret and her mother received support through Zambia Mission Project. The assistance included essential items such as soap, schoolbooks, and pens. Margaret expressed her gratitude for the support, especially the school supplies that help her continue her education. Her mother also expressed appreciation for the help given not only to Margaret but to their whole family.
Margaret carries responsibilities that many adults would find heavy. Each day, she balances caring for her mother with her schoolwork, and without support, the pressure at home could force her to miss lessons or leave school altogether. Items such as soap, schoolbooks, and pens may seem simple, but for Margaret they mean better hygiene and health for the family, and the tools she needs to learn in class. This support allows her to keep pursuing her education and reminds her and her mother that they are not facing their challenges alone.
Margaret’s story reminds us that sometimes, behind a child’s school uniform is a story of responsibility, sacrifice, and determination.
Margaret remains committed to going to school and working toward her academic goals, because she understands that education can shape her future. Zambia Mission Project hopes to continue walking alongside Margaret and her mother so that she can stay in school while her mother receives the care she needs. Ongoing support for school supplies, basic household needs, and encouragement will help Margaret keep learning without having to choose between her family and her education.
You can be part of the next chapter of Margaret’s story. Through your prayers and support, a simple act of kindness can help a child stay in school, strengthen a family, and give hope for a better tomorrow.
Natasha’s Story
Natasha Mambwe is a 10-year-old girl, born on 12th August 2016. She is the second-born of four [4] children. In 2018, when Natasha was only two years old, her father died, leaving her a single orphan. After his death, Natasha and her siblings were taken to live with their grandparents in Nangoma, Mumbwa District, west of Lusaka, Zambia. Her grandparents became their primary guardians and cared for them as best they could.
Both grandparents were villagers and peasant farmers living in extreme poverty. The family lives in a grass-thatched house, which Natasha shares with her siblings and other grandchildren. Last year, the situation became even harder when her grandfather passed away. Her grandmother is now the only provider for a large household. She cultivates a small piece of land, harvests small quantities, and sells part of the harvest, but the income is not enough to support the grandchildren, especially now that the cost of living in Zambia has gone up. Despite these hardships, Natasha continues to attend school and is currently in Grade 5 at Malende Primary School.
Natasha’s situation places her at serious risk. With only their grandmother struggling to feed many children, there is often not enough food at home, and a hungry child finds it difficult to concentrate and learn. The grass-thatched house does not offer a safe or healthy living environment for Natasha and the other children. Without help, she may struggle to meet basic school needs, and her education, health, and future opportunities could be put at risk. Natasha is at an important stage of her primary education, and the support she receives now can determine whether she stays in school and grows up with hope for a better future.
Natasha needs a sponsor who will stand with her and her family. Sponsorship will help provide her school needs, such as a uniform, shoes, books, and other learning materials, and will support her with food so that she can stay healthy and focused in class. It will also ease the burden on her grandmother, who carries the responsibility of caring for the whole household. With the right support, Natasha can remain in school, complete her primary education, and work towards her dreams.