“God Himself is working, and we are just watching and obeying as He leads us on.” – Pastor Imasiku, LCC
At first it seemed like such a blessing when the Zambian government dropped school fees recently. But unfortunately, they have not yet hired more teachers or build more classrooms. With up to 80 students for every 1 teacher in school, children who are not even in their teens are dropping out of school at alarming rates – risking a life of poverty, crime and drugs, and they need somewhere to turn.
And so, the After School “Clubs” were born! They are meant to be fun and engaging, even with the weight of responsibility the clubs carry to help keep children in school and thriving. With this one outreach, we’ve grown from reaching 200 children to (soon) nearly 700 at-risk kids in Zambia through these three churches.
David’s Story
David has been sponsored all through primary and high school. His father has suffered health issues and the family has benefited in the past couple of years from emergency food relief. Child sponsorship allowed David to attend school, and a solar light from has been a real help in his evening studies.
*Child’s name changed for privacy
Kids are gratefully taking computer, math, music, art, and literacy tutoring, and learning more about the Bible & about living a thriving life in Christ at Calvary & LCC (and soon at MEC too). Some of the parents are even being given the chance to learn small business skills and computer skills to improve their family’s economic security. And also, more about what it means to follow Jesus. “Some will accept Christ and are encouraged to learn spiritual habits to “develop the likeness of Christ.” says Pastor Imasiku.
All this has been accomplished, even in a time of high inflation and unemployment.
After School Club TV Coverage by Zambia National News
Just a couple of weeks ago, Hope Story staff members Christian Ferraro and Karen Hughes visited our 3 Zambia church partners to see how the children are doing, and to check in on the new community centres. They were even able to participate in the official opening ceremonies of the Calvary Community Centre, attended by Livingstone’s mayor, and covered by national news! Christian said a few words, and some of the young people shared what it means to them to have this critical support and investment in their lives.
Keep your eyes open for more information coming soon on the food crisis in Zambia.
Please pray for...
the churches as they each run their own unique community outreach
our supporters, that they will step forward to fund the ongoing operation of the Zambia After School Clubs
the leadership & church volunteers (more are needed!) at each Zambia church partner
About our Church Partners in Zambia
Starting outreach in 2003 Calvary is a well-established centre for city outreach and ministry. Livingstone Christian Centre (LCC) began in 2019, with the goal of helping people forgotten by others but not by the Church. Mongu Evangelical Church (MEC) is already teaching pre-school children aged 4-7 years old and will soon reach older children too. Our three church partners in Zambia are mobilized to serve vulnerable children in the population centres of Mongu, in western Zambia, and Livingstone in southern Zambia, with more than two-thirds of the country living below the poverty line.