VOH Bwiza (Burundi) Update: Felix Draws Aunty Nancy
Felix is one of our VOH Bwiza youth. He was raised by a single mother, and it was difficult for her to provide for him. We are happy to support Felix through our VOH programs while he lives with his mother in the community. We welcomed him to our Centre when he was just a young boy, and now he’s in secondary school. Recently, we were amazed to see that Felix has developed a new talent: drawing! He drew a picture of Auntie Nancy (VOH Africa’s Director of Development), and we couldn’t believe the resemblance. We are so happy about the new talent Felix has discovered. We believe his confidence to try new, creative things is due to the encouragement and care that he and children like him receive from VOH! We are so pleased to see how motivated our kids are and how their creativity is boosted and explored with confidence!
VOH Chongwe (Zambia) Update: Returning to School
Our school at VOH Chongwe reopens this week for grades 7, 9, and 12. These are the grades that write government exams at the end of the school year. The students are so excited to be back in school after the extended COVID-19 closure. The students continued to receive school work from their teachers during the closure to keep up with the lessons, but they are thrilled they can get more guidance and clarity on their work in person now. In preparation for their return, we will be following strict and enhanced COVID-19 measures and procedures. Heavy disinfecting of the classrooms and all of the surrounding areas is also an added ongoing activity. The entry point at our main gate has medical personnel taking each person’s temperature, ensuring they are not feeling sick, and enforcing our mandatory mask policy. We have several hand washing stations around the Centre and are observing social distancing in class and before and after every session. We wish our examination students great success as they prepare!
VOH Kitwe (Zambia) Update: Donated Furniture!
This week at VOH Kitwe, we received a furniture donation for the Headteacher’s and Deputy Headteacher’s offices! The Ministry of Education donated the furniture with instructions to distribute it amongst government schools and community schools. Here at VOH Kitwe, we are so thankful to be one of the schools that received the donated tables and chairs. Our Headteacher received the gifts on the Centre’s behalf and did so with great joy! We are so grateful for the recognition shown to us by the Kitwe Education District Office. The furniture will be put to good use!
VOH Luongo (Zambia) Update: Grade 7s Return to School
This week VOH Luongo’s grade 7 students were so happy to hear they can return to school! During the sudden closure of schools due to the third wave of COVID-19, the students were only coming to the Centre for our feeding program and to pick up school work to take home. Grade 7 is one of the three grades that write government exams, and the government is allowing these grades to return to in-person learning. The other two grades are 9 and 12, but we only have a grade 7 class because our Centre is very new. The government wants to ensure students are back in class in advance of writing these important exams. Our staff are very happy to be back, as well, and are more than ready to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols are followed while they help their students prepare for exams. The children have pledged to work extra hard and utilize this chance they’ve been given.
VOH Maramvya (Burundi) Update: Building New Classrooms!
At VOH Maramvya, we are building three classrooms that we plan to have completed before the 2021-2022 school year begins. When we first arrived here in Maramvya, most people in the community had little hope for their children’s futures, but since the day we started to build the very first small classroom, we have seen a remarkable transformation. With more and more people leaving their homes in Bujumbura and settling in Maramvya, our Centre is becoming an increasingly important part of the community! The authorities of this area continually thank VOH for actively participating in the development of Maramvya. We thank our donors from near and far for their contributions, which allow us to continue to transform this community. We are confident the future holds bright things for the VOH children and their families!
VOH Mongu (Zambia) Update: Creating a Short Film
It’s been yet another exciting and fun week here at VOH Mongu! This week, the kids living in our children’s homes at the Centre found a new way to have fun while our school is still closed due to COVID-19. We love seeing their passion and willingness to learn and try new things! This special project they worked on was to prepare for a short video featuring the story of Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus. They were all dressed up and acted out the Bible story. We loved how our kids are exploring their creative sides!
VOH Zimbabwe Update: Kuda’s Story
Meet Kuda, a 17-year-old who joined VOH Zimbabwe at the age of 6. She went through our formal school system and graduated in 2020. Today’s school system in Zimbabwe encourages practical education, so Kuda studied Textile technology as part of her schooling. After graduating, Kuda decided to pursue Cutting and Design at a local college. She has been doing this for the past four months and loves what she does! Kuda is now already able to produce things she can sell to support herself and her family. We are committed to ensuring she finishes college and is fully established in her sewing skills. We are so excited to see how everything is coming together for her!