Zambia (MNN) — With the highest rate of AIDS infection in
the world, sub-Saharan Africa–Zambia, especially–has an astounding number
of orphans. Coupled with improper hygiene and poor conditions, the death and illness rates have soared in the Misisi
Compound of Lusaka, Zambia.
Such a crisis breaks the hearts of Kids Alive International
workers, especially field director Jim Kongwa. He told Kids Alive he can no
longer hold orphans brought to him because almost all of them are turned away
for lack of facilities; many later die from malnutrition or other forms of
neglect.
Since Kids Alive cannot help each of these individual kids,
they have developed a program titled "Families Together," which empowers the relatives
of orphans and vulnerable children to care for these kids.
Without this program, most of these children would either die or
be forced to live on the streets, resigned to prostitution or criminal activity
to make a living. Instead, "Families Together" provides food, clothing and other
necessities. Additionally, as Kids Alive looks to rebuild the lives of kids,
they also piece together and restore the community around them, ultimately
sharing the hope Christ offers them for today and the future.
While the need is staggering and it is easy to get
discouraged by such a momentous this task, Kids Alive is starting out small to
help the kids they can, then broadening their scope once the program takes
off. Currently, they are looking to reach out to 25 kids in the most dire of
circumstances.
You can help one of these kids with a one time gift of $70. This will impact the kids as well as their family, and eventually their community. Click
here to get started.
