Lake Tanganyika school for orphans
Originally the programme was only a Playgroup for the smallest children, but God laid it on the team’s hearts to begin a school. In 2009, the programme hosted 40 children. These same children are now in Grade 0 and Grade 1 classes, and 20 new children attend the Playgroup. The two teachers are Zambians who have graduated from the OM Teacher Training College.
The team can see a difference in the children now from when they first came to the programme a year ago. Orphans in Mpulungu, Zambia, are rejected and neglected, and when the children came to the school they were starved for love and undernourished. After just one year of loving care and sound teaching, these children are healthier emotionally and physically. Most importantly, though, the teachers passionately teach each child about the love of Jesus and the truth of the Bible. While they teach skills like math and reading, the teachers also show the children God's love and teach about living a godly lifestyle. The vision for the school is that these children will grow to be a light to their families and community.
The children also receive breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday. They have been able to provide each child with a school uniform and educate them about good hygiene. Teachers visit the homes of the orphans each Saturday to build relationships with the guardians and gain better understanding of the situation each child comes from.
It’s important to the team and teachers to consistently lift these children in prayer. They often come from difficult environments and are abused both verbally and physically. Many act up and are naughty because they have lacked attention and guidance.
Currently, a new location for the school is being constructed in Mpulungu. This new site includes new classrooms, as well as an outdoor kitchen and eating area for the children.
Praise God with us for His provision and pray for safe completion of this project. Please pray that the teachers will have wisdom to connect with each child and help them open up to being loved. Pray that the children will respond to discipline and that the teachers will have grace and patience in handling each situation.
Lake Tanganyika is one of OM’s newest fields, acquired as part of ProChristo’s merger with OM in January 2009. The lake is the second largest in eastern Africa and forms the boundary between Tanzania and Congo. To the south the lake borders with Zambia, to the north with Burundi. As a whole, the borderlands of Lake Tanganyika are characterized by underdevelopment. People depend mostly on fishing as a livelihood, and agricultural farming is almost impossible due to very rocky soil.
Availability of schools and clinics are poor and literacy levels are very low. The population in Mpulungu is approximately 40,000 people in town, with about 70,000 registered at the Mpulungu health clinic. Families have, on average, between seven and nine children.
Credit: OM International · © 2010
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