Communities Without Borders

This was the first Communities Without Borders project in Africa. It began in 1999 when Dr. Bail was in Zambia as a consultant to the government of Zambia for UNAIDS. The Family Support Home is operated by local residents under the supervision of the non-governmental organization, the Society for Women and AIDS in Zambia (SWAAZ).

Dr. Bail visited the orphan support project in 1999 and again in 2000. He met with Mrs. Manda Banda, the leader of the local women and with 5 other volunteer women on her committee. The women identified their priority needs, and their main focus was on the need for educational support for the orphans who had no access to formal education at that time.

Diniwe, age 7, lives her with grandmother and 5 other children, hopes to be a teacher

Patricia, age 10, has a hearing deficit, lives with her grandmother, hopes to be a tailor

The project supports 50 children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. In the most typical cases these children live with an aging grandmother who is struggling to feed and care for 3-4 small children. Since unemployment is virtually 100%, there is little money available. Sometimes the women are able to earn some income by re-selling oil or food in small roadside stands. The family support home provides one meal a day for the children- sometimes their only meal. The food is donated by the World Food Program and is prepared by the women volunteers. The food is a maize meal known as mealy meal, and it is cooked into porridge. Rarely is there enough money to supplement with vegetables and even less often meat. The Family Support Home also provides informal education in a very crowded and poorly lighted building. The three teachers are untrained and teach mainly by verbal repetition. There is a very small garden on the plot of land. Sometimes the project can provide clothing or shoes for the children.

Of the 50 children 25 were of school age in 1999. There is a government school nearby, but these children could not access the school because they did not have money for school fees, uniforms or school materials. Dr. Bail and a Zambian University student interviewed each of the children to determine their family situation and their aspirations for the future. The children aspired to become drivers, mechanics, schoolteachers, nurses and doctors. Without a primary education none of these careers would be very likely. These children truly treasured the opportunity to go to school, and often a book or a writing pad was their most treasured possession. These children have been supported by CWB for school attendance since 2000. Reports from the government school have been sent, verifying their attendance and performance. In some cases the children have done very well and most are progressing in school.

Davy, age 11, left school when his father died, hopes to be a doctor

Maria, age 9, brought by her grandmother, hopes to be a teacher

CWB has made other contributions to improve the quality of life in Mandevu. The women were very eager to obtain electricity so that the children could read and study at night. For $100 it was possible to connect the Family

Support Home to a nearby electrical line and now the building is lighted. CWB has initiated a small income generation project by providing sewing machines so that the women could create and sell school uniforms. On one occasion a special donation provided a special Christmas meal for all the children.

The women have continued to meet regularly and they have sent minutes of their meetings. They have been very enthusiastic and appreciative for the support they have received.

Frank, age 8, lives with his grandmother, hopes to be a carpenter