News

Some of the team members sharing cobs of maize. Regina harvested the maize in her field the previous day and brought some to share with the Living Compassion team members.

Miracle, Grace, and Peace sending their cute little smiling faces to you. They just love the camera!

Faith and Mercia after lunch, saying "Please take my photo."

Meet little Ishmael, who is in Teacher Memory’s class. He has a very cute smile and loves playing football. The ball they kick around is made of old clothes, which his brother made for him. He lives with his grandmother, as both his parents have passed on. He has a big brother in Grade Eleven at Lubuto Secondary School.

Nelia, Rose, and Theresa enjoying the pictures from one of the books in the library here. The book shows different types of animals from around the world.

The little ones lining up to get their lunch. One can tell just by looking at their faces that they really enjoy it!

Meet little Nonde Chilufya. She is six years old and in Memory's class. She lives here in Kantolomba with her older sister who is married. Her parents and other older siblings stay in the village in Kasama, Northern Province.

This is the cassava root, which is widely eaten in Zambia. The root itself is eaten as it is, and some dry it and grind it into flour which can be prepared into another type of nshima, which is usually made from maize. Other than roasting it, as shown here, you can also boil it and eat it with roasted peanuts. The leaves are eaten as a veggie.

Now that we have both StarLink and solar power, the Living Compassion children have access to the internet, which they use to help research their school work.

One of our young women, Joyce, is starting to do a lot of work assisting Auntie Theresa. We have our eye on her as a potential future leader.

Mirriam and Diana getting ready to plait a customer’s hair.

The Library is cleaned every other week. Here, Younger Foster and Mirriam are cleaning. We do like to have a good time when we’re cleaning!

A member of the community saying to photographer Joyce, “Take a photo of me! I appreciate what Living Compassion has done for our community, bringing clean water.”

Most of the coop members have side businesses they work on in their off-time. Here Martha is showing off her brooms, made of grass that is collected and woven into a broom.

We have been having heavy rain here, and weeding is done every week. Here Joyce is pitching in.

Charles is weeding, too.

Jowan putting a bucket of water on her head, as a member of the community looks on.

More cleaning fun! We clean everything on Friday afternoons. Here are Docus, Emelda, and Felistus cleaning.

Astrida Bwalya, 9 years old, is in Grade 3 this year. She has three older siblings and two younger ones. She stays with her mum; her father left the family to marry another woman in Twapia. Her mum sells veggies at the local market here in Kantolomba. She loves going to school, and her favorite subject is English.

Mildred Mwansa is 8 years old and is in Grade 3. She is the daughter of very own cooperative member Charity. Mildred is the last-born in a family of five other siblings. Her mum is the bread winner. Mildred started coming to Living Compassion when she was small. She loves singing and is doing well in school.

Little Peggy Banda, 9 years old and in Grade 3. She is the first-born daughter of our very own team member Ruth. Ruth is the daughter of Sofia, one of the beloved, original cooperative members who died some years back. Peggy has a two sisters, and they live with mum in their family house. Peggy is a good girl both at school and home and loves teaching her siblings what she learned at school when she gets home.

Meet Christabel Mukwemba, who is 9 years old and a Grade 3 student at Oremus School. She is the daughter of our coop member Audria. Christabel is the last-born in a family of eight other siblings. She lives with her family right here in Kantolomba. Her mum is the bread winner of the family and takes care of everyone. Christabel wants to become a doctor when she finishes school so that she can take care of her mum. She recently lost her sister Docus.

Meet Gloria Nyirongo. She is 8 years old and in Grade 3. Gloria is the second-born in a family of three, with two brothers. Her father was hit by a car in Lubuto as he was coming from work three years ago. To make ends meet, her mum sells fritters by the roadside on the way to Lubuto. Gloria is a very cheerful girl and loves reading.

This is Mercy Bwalya, 12 years old and in Grade 7. She recently lost her mom, and her father is also no more. Mercy lives with her grandmother, who sells vegetables to make ends meet. Mercy is a bright student and loves English. Most of the time when not in school, she comes to Living Compassion to be with her friend Edna.

Please meet Ester Nkandu. She is 13 years old, in Grade 7, and is the daughter of our cooperative member Zilo. Ester is the second-born in a family of four. She is shy and does not talk much, but she’s a very good student. She loves English and reads a lot in the library when the girls come to Living Compassion.

This is Karen Banda. She is 12 years old. Her mom had her at an early age, when she was only 15 years old. Karen has a younger sister and little brother. Karen’s mom and dad recently separated, and her mom now works as a maid. Karen is a great student at school. She loves singing and wants to become a pilot when she grows up.

Edna Phiri, all grown now at 15 years old and in Grade 7. She is the daughter of our very own cooperative member Natasha Phiri, who is exceptional on the team. Everyone loves Natasha, and she works extra hard for her children. Edna is the first-born and has a younger brother and sister. She is a very good student and loves reading and learning computers. Edna wants to become a doctor when she grows up.

Mangoes are in season at Living Compassion. Pauline, Veronica, and Foster share out the fruit.

The rains are finally here and yes, everything is green and weeds are growing fast. Here, Pauline and team are clearing weeds. In the background are our three water tanks!

The team is always in high spirits when it comes to work. Cooking for the children is their passion—along with making sure that the food is served on time! Here Susan, Florence, and Docus are sorting beans.

Memory showing her passion for teaching. After being trained as a teacher, she has helped a lot with the children here at Living Compassion. Parents have come to appreciate how much their children have progressed. Keep it up, Memory!

Theresa doing solar research in town. We had many false starts with our research. We would find a company, only to learn they didn’t have what we needed, or charged far beyond what was reasonable, or never called us back, or.... Finally, Theresa found what we were looking for!

The items have been purchased and installation begins.

More of the necessary items.

Finally we have lighting!

John holds the pipe where our water level is: 20 meters from the bottom of the spring to the top of the water.

The representative from the water company assisting. They perform this service for us free of charge.

Veronica happily smiling as she helps arrange the stoves.

Drumming, singing, and dancing as the stoves arrive.

Vero and Memory in the foreground as the whole team celebrates.

We tie our chitenge to dance as Brenda plays the drum.

Pauline shows off her new stove.

The Team with their stoves, singing while Brenda beats the drum. A big THANK YOU to everyone on Team USA for the stoves!

Docus and Audria collecting stones to prepare the site for the new water tank, one of the projects funded by the proceeds from the Bridge Walk. We are so excited for it to arrive!

JoAnne helping to bring in more stones.

We finalized the purchase of the tank and as it arrived, jubilation and ululation was the music filling the air.

The team was delighted and broke into song and dance when they lifted the tank into place. Our severe drought continues and our good fortune at having a good well means we are the only source of clean water for thousands in our community. Thank you to the whole U.S. team for helping us provide this third tank to store enough water for everyone.

With the Bridge Walk funds, we have also purchased the first two alternative cooking stoves! These stoves will use waste products from agriculture instead of trees (charcoal) for fuel. As in all of Africa, deforestation is a grave issue in Zambia, and we are looking for ways to cut down on the use of charcoal. Very exciting!

The third project we have been able to start thanks to the Bridge Walk is tree planting! Here is Rechel holding two tree seedlings.

These are the two types of trees that are planted in the nursery. The government is encouraging the planting of these two types on a large scale. A group of our young women is being trained at the nursery in how to plant and care for the trees. We will report as the project progresses.

Everyday activities at Living Compassion continue. Here is Memory after lunch, making sure that she marks all the books and prepares the next day's work.

Pricilla, who is in Charles’s class, is ready to go to Grade One next year at Twatemwa School right here in Kantolomba. She is an orphan and lives with her grandmother. They depend on the support of the Living Compassion community.

Meet Lazarous, one of the many children that grow up in the community of Kantolomba without enough food to eat each day. Living Compassion helps little cute faces like him by enrolling them in the program so that they get proper nutrition.

We end with wishing Zambia Happy Independence Day, which we celebrate on the 24th of October each year. Here is Baby Chimwemwe Theresa (Theresa’s granddaughter), who is now 18 months old. She says "Hello U.S. Team and Happy Independence Day!"

We have been tracking each member's health issues and have been helping anywhere we can. If called for, we advise to go to the clinic immediately. Here Aunty Veronica’s blood pressure is being checked. In the past week, it has stabilized.

Lunch time is always the best time here at Living Compassion! The little ones are a beauty to watch as they hold on to their lunch boxes like prized possessions to go and share at home. We feed a thousand and more.

Our nurses and tailor, wrapped in colorful chitenge. From left to right are Esther, Miriam, and Bertha. This was Chitenge Day at Living Compassion.

Our two newest coop members, Esther and Natasha, are doing great! Natasha replaced her grandmother, Older Foster, and Esther is volunteering on behalf of her father, who has not been feeling well.

Micro-businesses continue here at Living Compassion. Here is Angela working on a hairstyle called Mukule in Bemba. 
 

And when she’s not doing hair, another of our stylists, Joyce, helps out all around!

Theresa holding up a beautiful long chitenge dress that was made by our young tailors for a customer from the community. This outfit was for a wedding.

These veggies were harvested from our garden micro-business.

Coop member Emelda smiles for the camera as she prepares the greens she plucked from the vegetable garden. Tonight she is going to have iyakusashila, veggies in peanut butter sauce.

Here is Regina, one of our beloved older team members, feeling well and doing light work. 

Marian helping in the dining hall, handing out the little lunch boxes to the children. She is Josephine’s oldest daughter and one of the young women in the Girls Program. She had not been feeling well but is much better now.

The economy here in Zambia continues to be bad, and we are so grateful for the extra bag of mealie meal Living Compassion provides to each coop family. Here is Aunty T counting the bags carefully as they are being delivered.

Malila with her students in class practicing the letters C and D. This class is preparing for Grade One next year.

Ann helping out with the little ones. She is in the library most of the time, making sure that the students read their books and helping with homework. She is a beloved part of the team!

Some of our girls and little ones with Teacher Memory, in the first row at the far left.

Three of our co-op members are retiring. In each case, we are pleased to welcome one of their family members who are replacing them on the team. Here is Natasha Moyo, the granddaughter of Older Foster Bulasho. Natasha is taking care of her grandmother now and is the mother of one.

Here is Mary Liadani, Margret Chisenga’s daughter. Margret has retired because of poor eyesight, and Mary will be caring for her.

Here is Elizabeth Kasonde, Eugenia’s daughter. Elizabeth is the mum of Jennifer Kabwe in the Girl’s Program.

Cute faces of Kantolomba! Little Matthew and his brother enjoying a ride in a wheelbarrow while their parents fetch clean drinking water at Living Compassion.

Standing between two of the co-op teachers after extra lessons one afternoon is “Baby Cheri,” though now we just call her Cheri!

Our getting-ready-for-Grade-One students in class. With a smile on her face, little Mercy says she wants to become a teacher when she grows up.

When not busy with their micro-finance activities, the girls also help in the kitchen, stirring the pot of nshima. It’s good practice!

The nurses on their rounds checked up on Mirriam Sibale, one of our co-op members who is sick at home. She is being treated for malaria. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Lunch is enjoyed by all! Joyce and Bertha, two of our micro-entrepreneurs, eating together.

Co-op member Brenda enjoys her lunch.

Joanne eats in the company of one of the adorable little ones.

Aunty T with some of the Grade 10 girls. Edna, in yellow in the front, is in Grade 6 but insisted on being in the photo!

Aunty T enjoying a light moment with the little ones.

We were so glad to have Marian back, feeling better and enjoying her food.

The micro businesses are continuing! Bertha hard at work making a dress.

Older Miriam trying on her apron that Bertha made.

The bakery has just started its first test market items! Bernadette, who graduated from catering school last year and is the head of the baking department, shows off the first batch ready to go in the oven.

Baking.

All done!

Veronica passes them out for the taste test.

The team enjoying the sample of buns. They were yummy!

Martha admires the three different types of treats.

Silvia takes a break from her nursing duties to have lunch and enjoy the baked goods!

Joyce with a client doing what she does best!

And, of course, as always, there are about a million thousand-watt smiles here every day!