For the latest news, comment and press releases contact Lily on 01223 901006 or lily@zoa.org.uk
New partner, new appeal, new desks
3rd May 2022
Can you help us provide desks for Twatasha School?
ZOA’s newest grassroots partner, Twatasha Community School, was set up because there were insufficient state school places in the peri-urban district of Kafue accessible to children with disabilities.
To improve the quality of education for 600 disadvantaged students attending Twatasha school, we need to raise funds to purchase 200 new desks and separate seats for the students, plus 10 teachers’ desks/chairs and 10 blackboards.
Get involved…
Black Lives Matter
29th July 2020
The killing of George Floyd, a black man, in Minneapolis, United States of America, by a white police man and the global response challenges all of us who’ve been repulsed by this killing, and the many injustices it exemplifies.
Floyd’s brutal killing occurred in the USA where the Black Lives Matter Movement originated in response to the centuries of injustices and violence black people in that country have suffered. But these injustices are not restricted to the USA. They are experienced and seen in countries around the world, including the United Kingdom.
We, at Zambia Orphans Aid UK, wish to reaffirm our commitment to provide the means to break down social and economic inequality and injustices. We believe in the power inherent in each child, woman and man. We work with Zambia Orphans Aid Zambia to identify indigenous partners in Zambia committed to and working towards unleashing the potential of each vulnerable child. We do not initiate projects; we solidify self- respecting relationships with our partners, by providing the required financial inputs and other support they need for sustainable local capacity and capability building.
However, we reaffirm that black lives matter. In doing so, we commit ourselves to reinforcing our way of working with our partners in Zambia to demonstrate that their lives and those of the vulnerable children they serve matter for what they are – a part of the human family.
We believe that Floyd’s brutal death and the injustices it highlights, should push us in the NGO community to revisit the relationships we have with our grassroots partners in Africa. Based on the knowledge we have of Africa and the African people, let us redouble efforts, and work together to put in place platforms to ensure fair treatment of people of African descent and other ethnic minorities.
Let us support grassroots efforts for cultural shifts in homes and communities – the bedrocks of racial biases.
Signed:
Lord Andrew Turnbull, Chair, Zambia Orphans Aid UK
Dr Shimwaayi Muntemba, Founding Chair, Zambia Orphan Aids
Vice Chair Zambia Orphans Aid UK
ZOA-UK response to COVID-19 in Zambia
25th March 2020
On 20th March 2020 the Zambian Government closed all schools, colleges and universities. Four days later it announced a systematic lockdown banning gatherings of more than 50 people and advising people to stay at home. The consequence means many have lost the ability to earn an income and Zambia Orphans Aids supported school children are no longer able to get their daily free school meal.
The city of Lusaka has been declared an epicentre and other locations in Lusaka have been declared RED zones. It’s highly likely the worst is yet to come and with only half the healthcare workers needed, according to WHO, Zambia is ill-prepared to deal with a pandemic like COVID-19.
Zambia is one of the world’s poorest countries. The country has been hugely affected by AIDS, and as antiretroviral treatment doesn’t work on an empty stomach, it’s important people have food to eat.
Particularly in the Southern Province rainfall has been low for two years and crops have failed. This has left families, already living in poverty, without food.
The price of staple foods such as maize, rice and wheat have increased because of the food shortage leaving people unable to afford to buy the basics. There is a desperate need to provide food rations to vulnerable families so that no child goes hungry.
Most households have very limited access to hygiene materials such as soap and hand sanitiser making good hygiene practices more challenging and increasing the likelihood of contracting and passing on COVID-19.
ZOA-UK with our grassroots Zambian partners are:
- distributing emergency food to orphans and vulnerable children and their households
- distributing soap to orphans and vulnerable children and their households
- delivering key health messages to Stop the Spread of COVID-19
Be a stay at home hero and raise money for orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia
26 April 2020
The 2.6 Challenge kicks off on Sunday 26th April when usually thousands of people would be running The London Marathon raising money for hundreds of charities. Instead challenge yourself to do anything that has the figures 2 and 6 in it and raise much needed funds.
Be a stay at home hero and raise money to help orphans and other vulnerable children in Zambia during the global coronavirus pandemic.
What’s the challenge
- The 2.6 challenge kicks off on Sunday 26thApril when it would have been the London Marathon’s 40th anniversary.
- Instead of running a marathon (although you can if you like) the challenge can be anything you like – as long as it has the figures 2 and 6 in it!
- Your 2.6 challenge can be done anywhere, including your own home. Just remember to follow government guidelines on exercise and social distancing.
When is the challenge?
The challenge starts on 26 April. But you don’t have to do it on this day, it can be any day around this date, or for the ultimate challenge you could do something every day for 26 days!
2.6 challenge ideas
- 26km around your garden or living room
- 26 star jumps or burpees or squat jumps
- Plank for 2.6 minutes
- Walk up and down your stairs 26 times
- How many cups of tea can you drink in 26 minutes?
- Blow 26 bubbles
- Shoot 26 hoops
- Make a meal using 26 ingredients
Why we need your help?
- The orphans and other vulnerable children we support in Zambia receive a free nutritious meal at school each day. With schools closed and food prices sky-rocketing there is a desperate need to provide food packages to vulnerable families so that no child goes hungry.
- Most households we work with have limited access to hygiene materials such as soap and hand sanitizer making good hygiene practices more challenging and increasing the likelihood of contracting and passing on COVID-19. We’re distributing bars of soap to orphans and vulnerable children and their households
How do I donate?
- You can simply donate here
- Or set up your fundraising page on www.justgiving.com or Virgin Money Giving
Where will my money go?
- £2 can provide a child and their family with 2 bars of soap
- £20 can provide an emergency food package for a child to share with their family for a month
- £80 can provide a hand washing station for thousands of people
- £66 can pay for one of our frontline workers to provide key ‘stop the spread’ message to hundreds of people living in isolated villages
Share your pictures and videos on social media and let us know how you’re getting on. Don’t forget to use #twopointsixchallenge and tag us
£29,692 raised for orphans and
vulnerable children from The Big Give
12 December 2019
We can’t thank YOU, our supporters enough. You’ve raised £29,692 to help orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia change their future. The money you’ve raised will make a massive difference to orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia.
In fact it could kit out 660 pupils with everything they need for school – uniforms, shoes, bags, books and pens. It could provide 1,200 children with a nutritious school meal for a year. It could provide 10 tertiary students a refurbished laptop. Or it could provide 2,500 families with an emergency food package for the festive period. We think that’s pretty awesome, so THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
49% of students had suicidal thoughts
10 October 2019
49% of students who took part in a survey carried out by Zambia Orphans Aid had suicidal thoughts.
Orphans and vulnerable children are at a higher risk of suffering adverse social, health and economic effects due to poverty because they lack the family structures to support them. 70% of students who took part in the survey reported they had lost family members in the past two-year period linking bereavement to poor mental health. Without families to support them orphans and vulnerable children need extra care and support, both practical and emotional, to fully participate in school and their community and to do the everyday things that most of us take for granted.
Thelma, 16 years old said, “If you ask me if there is anything that makes me happy, I will say nothing makes me happy. There are a lot of things that make me sad. Firstly, my mother’s abusive language and character, and knowing she is HIV positive. At times she buys food for my young brother but not me. My mother was raped then she conceived me. I think this is the reason why she hates me so much. I don’t know who my father is. All this hurts me a lot and made me at one point think about not wanting to live anymore.”
Mental health and psychosocial support can help orphans and vulnerable children and their communities heal psychological wounds and rebuild social structures. It can help change people into active survivors rather than passive victims.
ZOA-UK, a small charity working to change the future for children in Zambia, has been awarded a UK aid grant from the UK Government’s Department for International Development. The grant will fund a project to:
- train staff and volunteers in psychosocial counselling;
- provide counselling to orphans and vulnerable children at home and at school
- train orphans and vulnerable children in life skills to improve poor emotional health and social behaviour;
- sensitize schools, teachers and peer educators about the challenges orphans and vulnerable children face.
Katy Dore, Executive Director of Zambia Orphans Aid UK said: “It’s shocking how many students in our survey felt that they didn’t want to live anymore. By addressing the mental health issues that so many orphans and vulnerable children experience we can improve their self-esteem and aspirations that in turn will reduce absenteeism and poor performance at school and help them transform their lives. We’re delighted to be able to implement this project with funding from the Government’s Small Charities Challenge Fund.”
International Development Minister, Baroness Sugg said: “Every child deserves to be safe, healthy and happy. That is why UK aid is supporting Zambia Orphans Aid UK to deliver essential counselling, build support networks and boost skills to help children get the best start in life.
“The Small Charities Challenge Fund makes it easier for small British charities like Zambia Orphans Aid UK to access UK aid, helping them to improve and save lives.”
For interviews, comment and the latest press releases please get in touch.
01223 890 162 or [email protected]