ZAMBIA UPDATE 2012

We have been working in Zambia for a number of years on projects such as a feeding program for HIV moms, cement block making/marketing program, and school children sponsorships. These programs have been concentrated in and around the Ndola, Zambia region. We have just begun providing resources for a family feeding program which is a quite effective. The families that we are helping are in dire need of basic necessities and consistent food supplies. This program was started two years ago by our partners in Zambia. In a nutshell we purchase basic food supplies for a family of 8 people and it will sustain them for three weeks or longer. This provides more than two meals per week. The challenge is to feed 30 families which costs $650 per month and we normally do it once per month though many times we skip months because we don't have enough sponsors yet. Despite being a huge challenge it is a very effective way of ministering to the families. We just recently sponsored five families. Below are a couple of photos.

We are now looking into purchasing a meal grinding machine which is used to grind maize creating the bags shown in the photos which contain "mealie meal". This is very popular in Africa for cooking and used at almost every meal. The grinding machine will enable us to purchase raw maize which can be ground, bagged, and then sold for profit in the community. This profit can then be used to purchase the maize that is given to the families. The families would work in the grinding process bag the meal and then sell it. This could have the potential of generating cash flow plus food for these families.