Where are they Now: Kelvin

Here at Villages of Hope, community is important to us, and this means each member of our community is important to us. We would love for you to get to know some of the staff, students, and others who are part of the VOH Africa family, which is why we are sharing this profile story with you today… 

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VOH Africa - meet kelvinAbout Kelvin

Location: VOH Kitwe

First came to Villages of Hope: April 2010

Tell us a bit about your life before coming to Village of Hope…

Before coming to Village of Hope I was living in Kalulushi with Mom and Dad, and my three brothers. My dad was working on our small farm plot to provide for all of us.

In 2003 my father started to get very sick with an illness and later died. After dad died, mom struggled to provide for us. I was taken to live with my uncle at the Kanfinsa police camp, but it was not long before that uncle died and I was brought back to live with my mother.

In less than a year my mother fell sick and one day she went to her bedroom to have a sleep complaining that she was not feeling well. Mom had locked the door to her bedroom and we did not know that she had died in the night until after 2 days when grandfather visited and forced the door to her bedroom open. It was then that she was found dead with my baby brother, Ali, lying beside her; but thankfully Ali was fine.

My grandfather brought all four of us to live with him in Kitwe in 2003. We started living with our grandfather. Just one year later, in 2004, our grandfather who was quite elderly started getting weak and unable to care for us and so he decided to bring us to Village of Hope. Even though he was a Muslim and he knew that Village of Hope is a Christian place, he had heard many good things about them and so he decided to take us to live there and to give us the chance to continue with our education.

Looking back at that now I have understood that everything works according to God’s plan because the Bible says in Jeremiah 29, “I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

What are you doing now?

Last year I completed writing all of my grade twelve exams and I really would like to work in the mines in the future, but they will not hire anyone who does not have a certificate of health.

I began saving money so I could afford to go through the required testing and receive this certificate. I am very happy that thanks to various small jobs and some assistance from relatives, I have recently managed to get the health certificate, so that when I am ready, it will be easier for me to get a job in the mines.

My elder brother who also grew up at VOH Kitwe, was one of the ones who helped me to pay for the heath examination.

What are your plans for the future?

My plan is to go to a driving school so I can get my license to drive a truck. Then, with my health certificate already in place, I am hoping to get a job as a driver at the mines, or some other company in town. I will then begin to save the money that I earn driving the truck for college fees.

My long term goal is to train as an electrical/mechanical worker.

How has Village of Hope helped get you where you are today and become the person you are?

Village of Hope has done so many things in my life. From the day I came to Village of Hope things have changed not just in my life, but  also in my 3 brothers lives who came to VOH with me.

Village of Hope is home to me and I can’t forget all they have done for me.

I am here today because of the love Village of Hope has shown me.

Village of Hope has also made me be a Christ follower and given me hope for the future.

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*Note: some edits have been made to this interview only for the purpose of translation and readability. No facts or details have been altered or removed. 

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