'Heroes is an understatement' - Meeting Caregivers in Zambia for the First Time

[Debbie Durham]

"Blanketed with Blessings"

Written by Cassie Smithco (Caregiver Kit Program Manager) with help from Scott Corchero

Being with World Vision for about 8 years now, I've always heard about how incredible our work in the field is, and yet never experienced it first-hand until this trip. I've been told that my mostly desk job is making a difference, and have honestly struggled to believe that. I've learned stories of Caregivers and the clients they serve, but have only visited with those who have made it to the U.S. And now here we are in Zambia experiencing the richness of the World Vision programs, as well as other partner programs. Meeting with our field staff and seeing our operations, makes it that much more real. Visiting with the Caregivers has been an incredible gift and has furthered the fact that they are truly the heroes serving the community and meeting the needs around them. Interacting with the children is priceless and beyond words.

Today we first had an opportunity to see our Gift-in-Kind (GIK) distribution center. World Vision Zambia has a huge GIK effort and receives containers filled with surplus product - anything from medical devices to school supplies - donated by various companies throughout mostly the U.S. These containers also include Caregiver Kits and other products that the Caregivers use throughout their ministry.

There are approximately 18,000 Caregivers in Zambia alone (77,000 throughout Africa). They are walking long distances each and every day to visit those who are in desperate need of emotional, physical, and spiritual support - whether that be adults battling HIV and AIDS or children who are orphaned. They have families of their own and often times jobs (if they are well enough to work). "Heroes" is actually an understatement. Menlo Park Presbyterian has assembled 30,000 Caregiver Kits to date with more to come next month. The majority of these have gone to Zambia and are making a significant difference in the lives of both the Caregivers and those they serve. Thank you for your devotion to these amazing individuals.

After visiting the distribution center and the World Vision office, we were able to participate in a distribution of our own. We weren't prepared to experience what we did. We had the privilege of attending a Christian community school run by a godly woman, who is a Caregiver, and wanted to make a difference in the lives of children without much opportunity. This hero's name is Esther Mkandawire. The "Needs Care Day Center" has 2 sessions each day. Each session has about 300 children from Kindergarten to 7th grade. This school is sadly filled with many orphans...about half of all the students have lost a parent or both to AIDS or other illnesses. It's the Caregivers who make sure that they are loved and have what they need, to the extent that they can.

We were actually their first "white" visitors ever. We were greeted with singing and dancing and warm greetings from the Caregivers that were gathered. They laughed at us because we couldn't clearly pronounce "good afternoon" in their local dialect. The kids sat orderly in their respective area looking at us with huge beautiful smiles - all were scattered throughout a large open classroom (not large enough for all the kids and lessons that were being taught at any given time however). We shook hands, high fived, hugged, took many pictures and were so blessed by such interactions. After watching some skits and singing more songs, our leader, Jason Miles, was invited to dance. From there, others jumped in and before too long the place erupted with dancing, laughter and sheer joy. Little did we know that this was going to be the act that brought us together as one. It made them feel more comfortable with us and made us more comfortable with them. After all the excitement, we eventually began to distribute 300 beautifully colored and substantial blankets. Each and every child in the classroom. These blankets were provided through a GIK donation. The children were estactic and so thrilled for this basic blessing. Most of them I'm sure have never received their very own blanket. You and I probably have too many blankets to count in our homes. We also got to distribute McKesson hospital socks to everybody in the building, as well as confiscated Nike shoes to each Caregiver. This was like their Christmas morning.

A colleague on our trip summed it up very well this evening..."the church needs the poor in order to see the essence of Christ."

Written by Cassie Smithco (Caregiver Kit Program Manager) with help from Scott Corchero