BACK HOME

FEB/MARCH UPDATE

 

The container is now on its way to Zambia!
A big thanks to everyone who helped us get it sent off!

It was a lot of hard work to get it all together. We’re excited to have Orley’s new drill rig, a used tractor, Peter’s new sand sorter, a compressor, a cement mixer, Cal poly’s compressed earth block maker, computers, and much more all arriving in Zambia in April. Continue to pray for the container’s safe transport and for favor with customs in Zambia.
 

SPECIAL FEATURE: How SHIP Addresses the Needs of Children
Kirk will be speaking this month at the Children at Risk conference in Anaheim focused on how individuals and organizations can work together to respond to the cries of needy children around the world. There is nowhere in the world where children are in greater crisis than in sub-Saharan Africa. Children are continually faced with many overwhelming problems, from the big issues of AIDS and the death of their parents to daily battles with diarrhea, sickness, and malnutrition.
 In Africa there’s an attack against the family. An entire generation of parents in their 20s though 40s is being wiped out by AIDS, waterborne diseases, and conflict. In a population of 11 million there are over 600,000 AIDS orphans. Children are becoming the country’s workers and parents. (It’s not uncommon for a 13 year old to have a child.) Children are Zambia’s present and future.
In Zambia, children suffer for lack of safe water. Several of the schools where we work had to be closed because the well had broken and the children had to walk long distances to get water. At another school, dozens of children were infected with schistosomiasis after fetching water from a contaminated pond. Seeds of Hope is working together with UNICEF, Lifewater, and Thirst Relief to provide over 38 schools and their surrounding communities with safe water, sanitation, and hygiene training. Zambian schools are an ideal place to work to bring hope and change to a community. When young children learn to use sanitary latrines and good hygiene, this raises the standard of what they expect at home. In addition, education is so valued in Zambia that parents are open to being taught new health practices by their educated kids. People’s lifestyles change and the changes influence others. We have seen many mothers going out and sharing health and hygiene skills with their neighbors and friends.
There is an incredible open door in Africa for Christians inspired by God’s compassion to hear the cries of the children and reach out in the ways that God directs them. Others can help the poor—it’s inherently a good thing to do—but it’s an uphill battle unless you combine it with the Gospel of Hope. Those who love and follow the Lord bring His hope with them. Take a little hope and plant it like a seed, and amazing things will happen. See conference information at Children-At-Risk

 

 
FLORIDA TRIP
Kirk and Jerry spent some time in Florida in February, meeting with other Vineyards working in Africa, and visiting SHIP partner Oasis Community Church, as well as ECHO demonstration gardens. They were able to build stronger ties with several Vineyard churches that are already working in Zambia and are looking forward to working more closely in partnership together. Kirk and Jerry also enjoyed meeting with Oasis Community Church and the team that they sent to Zambia, and hearing their stories first hand. For more information visit: Oasis Community Church
 
Partner Spotlight: Awassa

Seeds of Hope is excited to be working in partnership with Hand Pumps for Hope of Canada on the promotion of the Awassa hand pump. The Awassa hand pump is a unique design that works on hydraulics and is very different from the pumps that are found broken throughout the world. It is extremely easy to use and can be repaired in a fraction of the time of a typical pump. The first prototypes of the Awassa pump were installed by SHIP in Zambia in 2006 and the parts for nine more Awassa pumps are now on their way over in the container.  Awassa representatives Richard and Simon visited Seeds of Hope offices this past month, and we are all very excited about the potential of this technology to save lives throughout the world. Read more at www.handpumpsforhope.org or Awassa

 
 

Upcoming events
  • Jerry will be in Zambia March 6 - April 27
  • Children at Risk conference in Anaheim March 9-10
  • Bio Sand Filter Training in Santa Maria March 14-17
  • April Zambia trip
 
 
Just for fun



 

FLOOD UPDATE
Unfortunately, the heavy rains and flooding have continued to plague Zambia. In the areas we are working in, houses are continuing to crumble. Seeds of Hope is responding by installing additional sand filters throughout Chipulukusu. we have been able to up our monthly production of sand filters to 100 per month, thanks to generous funding from Thirst Relief. The community leaders are very thankful for our efforts in this time of need. the urgency of this need will contiune for several months.

.
 
. .
HOME  |  WHO WE ARE  |  WHAT WE DO  |  HELP BRING HOPE  |   RESOURCES  |   CONTACT US
paypal