By Marsha Winsryg | Director, AACDP
Zambia is currently facing one of its most severe droughts, affecting almost ten million people in rural areas of Southern and Western provinces and has had devastating consequences for agriculture, water availability, energy, and food security. We have worked to support our community with monthly delivery of staples foods and ways to continue growing food crops on the communal farm.
This drought and resulting economic decline have made creating alternative water sources imperative. Our man in Zambia, Sydney Mwamba, is researching various ways to collect and save water when it does rain. This will be our next big initiative to ensure the farm's future.
At the same time, we are expanding our educational sponsorship program. This has been quite successful and provides the student with a chance for a job with better pay. We are so proud of Busiku, one of our sponsorship students studying physiotherapy, who graduated last April from the University in Lusaka, and is now employed at the Mama Bakhita Cheshire Home providing care for the children there.
The AACDP was called upon for emergency funds when Sr. Agness wrote me last month from a remote missionary hospital requesting desperately dollars for an incubator because so many babies were being born prematurely due to the drought and resulting famine. The AACDP sent out a call on Facebook for help with this crisis and raised $3600 in 2 hours, enough to purchase the incubator and other life-saving equipment: a neontal suction machine and manual vacuum!
Thank you so much for supporting the AACDP's efforts these past few years. No matter how uncertain the future, we will keep on working to provide opportunities that can led to independence and productivity.
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