Mary Chiwala, the executive director of Nsungeni Children's Home, feeds an orphaned child in Kapiri Mposhi district, central Zambia, on Aug. 7, 2021. For many vulnerable children in Kapiri Mposhi district, Nsungeni Children's Home is a place that represents hope. (Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua)
LUSAKA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- For many vulnerable children in Kapiri Mposhi district in central Zambia, Nsungeni Children's Home is a place that represents hope.
The home not only helps children from Kapiri Mposhi and surrounding areas with a chance to have access to nutrition and shelter but also serves as a safe haven for those from abusive environments.
One of the things that make this only children's home in Kapiri Mposhi stand out is its ability to mobilize resources from local residents to meet its day-to-day needs.
Nsungeni Children's Home has since its establishment in 2009 relied on local well-wishers, who are essentially ordinary members of the public, to support its programs that include providing nutritional and educational support to children in need.
These well-wishers include farmers, the working class, as well as business people and young people from town who provide a range of resources aimed at meeting the needs of 20 children with ages from zero to 19 currently under the care of Nsungeni Children's Home.
"Ordinary residents provide us with foodstuffs, clothes for the children and finances. Volunteers and youth groups come through to donate clothes and help clean the surroundings," said Mary Chiwala, the Nsungeni executive director.
Chiwala said that the Nsungeni works in collaboration with social welfare support structures in Kapiri Mposhi, which help with identifying children in need of protection and shelter among other things. She added that Nsungeni Children's Home remains open to receiving help from well-wishers beyond Kapiri Mposhi district, noting that doing so will enable the institution to reach out to more children in need of help in central Zambia.
William Banda, one of the supporters, said Nsungeni Children's Home offers hope to abandoned children and those from abusive environments of Kapiri Mposhi.
Banda, a farmer, called for more support to this children's home, saying that any form of help counts as it goes a long way in ensuring that the place continues to offer support to vulnerable children.
"I donated bags of maize because that is what I had at the time. Individuals can donate whatever they have including their time if that is the only resource they have. One can also come through and help with the cleaning of the surroundings or offer art lessons to children," he said.
Nsungeni Children's Home has since its establishment in 2009 offered shelter and supported over 50 children with education and food, according to Chiwala, the Nsungeni executive director. Enditem
