Zambia ranks as one of the poorest nations in the world, with the vast majority of the population living below the poverty line. More than one million are HIV positive, infant mortality is extremely high, and hundreds of thousands of children are orphans. Child labour is rampant due to poverty, and more than one million Zambian children are working. These children face dangerous working conditions, unfair wages, and vulnerability to exploitation. And one in five children does not attend school. 32% of households care for at least one orphaned child, with 35% of children being stunted, mainly due to malnutrition.
Our work in Zambia is centred in some of the most difficult places in the country, providing an education, food, care and lots of love to some of the world’s most vulnerable children. Our school in Mongu, provides an education and food to about 550 children in a region where child labour is rife. Crucially we keep them off the streets where they are open to exploitation. Our care centre in Misisi provides after school care, food and education to extremely poor children and their families in one the poorest slums near Lusaka. And our Lilato and Chikondi residential centres house abandoned and abused children who would otherwise have no where else to go.