Ruth Banza with the children from the first orphan support group

We want to share a bit more about the orphan support group in D.R. Congo! To read the first part of our story, click here.

As we rang in 2022, we heard from the D.R. Congo team lead, Josephine, about their own New Year’s celebration with the orphan support group in Lubumbashi. Dressed in lovely matching outfits, the children had a wonderful time at the party put on by the Wasaidizi.

When we asked about the beautiful outfits and who had made them, Josephine explained that they were hand-made by the first orphan support group!

“Yes the Wasaidizi paid for the fabric but it is the former orphans who sewed for them…They are the orphans of the first group of 2018. Ruth Banza supervised them and also taught them tailoring.”

The orphan support groups are special because they create a space for new connections and familial bonds to be built between the children. How special it is to see the older group come together to make something beautiful for the younger ones to enjoy!

2021 Lubumbashi orphan support group, dressed in the clothes made by the older 2018 orphan support group. Wasaidizi volunteer and group leader, Jenny, standing in back.

Lubumbashi orphan support group, gathered for a New Year’s celebration!

In the D.R. Congo, our team leader, Josephine Kipampe, hosts an orphan support group with the Wasaidizi health workers in the city of Lubumbashi. A group that fosters joy, community, and healing, the support group met for a New Year’s celebration! Josephine shared the above photo and sweet message:

“This is the group of orphans in Lubumbashi… we invited them to come and celebrate with us today. the children were very excited and they said thank you to the Health Ed Connect team for the wonderful work they are doing and also to the Wasaidizi team. We are also saying thank you to the Health Ed Connect team for their support during the year. May God bless you all and we are wishing you all the best and a happy new year 2022.”

We are wishing a wonderful new year to each and every person we partner with and serve!

Luapula team lead, Jane Chibwe

We are thrilled to share that as we move into 2022, the Mulundu community center in the Luapula province of Zambia is nearing completion! The roof has been framed and covered in tin sheets, and the community is helping to finish the final phases of the project!

Luapula Kafwa team lead, Jane, shared her joy with us, saying:

“Hello friends!!!!! Wow Mulundu center has just come out like flying colours. I am so happy, how I wish you were in Zambia today.”

Project coordinator, Musans, shared this sentiment regarding the help from the community:

“People of Mulundu are also fantastic to contribute voluntarily like you see in the photos. I'm so happy.”

Soon, the Mulundu center will be filled with people of all ages, coming together for empowering programs led by community health workers. We share a big “thank you!” to all who have generously shared time and resources to help this project come together in a spectacular fashion! We’re excited for the new year!

The roof is nearly complete!

Little helper, Gift Chabala, helps to move stones for the floor of the center.

Happy students at Zamtan Community School of Peace

Each December, our sister schools in Zambia are alight with excitement for the year-end party! Kafwa volunteers lovingly prepare a special meal and treats as a celebration for the completion of the school year!

When the students arrive, many times the Kafwa have already been up for hours cooking. By lunch time, wonderful aromas of frying chicken or sausage can be smelled all around campus, and tummies are rumbling! As you can see, the joy on the students’ faces makes the day well worth the effort!

Friends, you make smiles like these possible! Even more importantly, you help provide long-lasting blessings of health and education for those who would otherwise lack access. Thank you for blessing others so generously!

Svoyamsevaka explaining how a mask should be worn to be most effective

COVID-19 waves have hit one after another and our friends in Nepal are making sure that community members are prepared and protected! Nepal team leader, Pinkey, and local community health workers are distributing reusable masks for people in the villages where they volunteer. Well-known and well-trusted, the Svoyamsevaka (Nepali community health worker volunteers) make sure that each person who receives a mask also has clear knowledge of how to use it effectively. They also use the opportunity to teach other healthy practices for virus prevention, including hand washing. Below is the message Pinkey shared:

Thank you HealthEd Connect for your kindness, giving re usable mask to community people. It’s small help but very important thing in current situation. Trying to cover more areas and villages where our volunteers are working. More work to do!  -Pinkey Malla Adikhari, Nepal team lead

COVID-19 is not in the past yet, and we are grateful to our supporters, local leaders, and community health workers for their vigilance in keeping communities healthy!

Pinkey speaking with community members while distributing reusable masks

Mavis Mubanga, teacher at Mapalo, shared “I couldn’t hold my joy!”

As our schools in Zambia begin to prepare for the new academic year in January, we were excited to announce pay increases for teachers at all 3 sister schools! These were happy surprises, and our friends put together small celebrations for the occasion. Afterwards, we received these uplifting messages:

“I am so pleased to write you this mail on behalf of all the teachers and School board. There was excitement during our party as letters were presented to teachers and read them.
Teachers appreciated the increment which has come at a time when life is seemingly becoming so difficult due to covid-19 pandemic. The gesture is a motivation which is an indication to us that our partners care so much about our economic well being as the case may be we entirely rely on this appreciation for our survival. This is very sustaining and you have done it in the most transparent manner! Thank you!

In undertaking the party, all the 8 teachers were around and one representative from the school board ( vice treasurer) Joyce Ngosa who encouraged the teachers to put in their level best in the education of the orphan and vulnerable child under our guard. Teaching transforms life completely and so what we do is important and the more reason why all these efforts from friends to help us transform the lives and future leadership of Zambia and the world as a whole.” - Emmanuel Mumba (Mapalo head teacher) and Joyce Ngosa (Kafwa leader and Mapalo School Board Vice Treasurer)

“We are all excited about this wonderful development and it is a huge motivation for the teachers. Thank you very much and please pass this message to entire Health Ed Connect team.” -Jackson Manjai (Zamtan School Board Treasurer)

We are so grateful to YOU, our supporters, for making this possible!

Happy teachers at Zamtan Community School of Peace

You not only met our $30,000 goal, you more than DOUBLED it, EXCEEDING our goal by  $38,540! That’s why today is “WOW Wednesday” - because you amaze us!

It becomes increasingly clear that one generous act surely sparks another. You have shown us that! Together, as a community, you raised $68,540! Add that to a generous commitment of $30,000 in matching funds, and that's...drum roll please...

$98,540 total investment

for empowering women and children through the loving arms of our Advocates, Builders, Community Health Workers!

 Watch our thank you video! - https://youtu.be/JEj0BzJx-Wo

Your support makes all the difference in ensuring that our community health workers have the tools they need to uplift their communities. Health education, first aid materials, birthing kits, weigh scales, and COVID-19 prevention supplies are part of their tool kits. Through their efforts, orphans and vulnerable children have access to quality education and a hot meal each day. You are granting scholarships for girls to attend high school, training professional nurses, and development for the health workers. The impact of your generosity creates cycles of positive change for generations!

There is so much more we could say, but the most important thing we want to share is THANK YOU!

Our mission to empower women and children through evidence-based health, education, and advocacy is made possible by YOU!

Polycarpo Ng’anga of Mapalo, Zambia

We’ve received happy news from Mapalo, Zambia! The chairman for the PCSC (similar to the PTA in the United States) at Mapalo Young Peace Makers Community School has received his COVID-19 vaccine and is excited to share! Head teacher, Emmanuel Mumba, sent this message:

I am delighted to send you this mail on behalf of Polycarpo, Parent Community School Chairman for Mapalo Young Peace Makers Community School, with his leading role to encourage the women and men who are guardians for the pupils to vaccinate against Covid 19 which has affected our living conditions.

In the Picture is Polycarpo holding his certificate after undertaking the noble choice of  vaccinating! He is now a shining example for many others who shun to take the vaccine based on mere speculations.

He is thankful to healthedconnect for the continued support to the school which has created an opportunity for many vulnerable children in my community.

A shining example, indeed! We are grateful for steps being taken, individually and collectively, in creating healthy communities!

Pssst! We’re nearly a week away from Giving Tuesday! Your donation to HealthEd Connect between Nov. 23-30 will be matched! Please join us and double your impact!