This week we explored our musical side, received mosquito nets, and celebrated new babies!
VOH Bwiza (Burundi) Update: Graduates Become Parents!
This week at VOH Bwiza, we are celebrating two of our graduates: Aline and Samson. Both grew up at VOH Bwiza, and after they graduated from secondary school, they got married–Samson to Annick and Aline to Shadrack. Now, both couples have been blessed with babies! Samson has a good stable job in Bujumbura, and Aline attends university. We are thankful to share and celebrate stories like this with all of our supporters!
VOH Chongwe (Zambia) Update: Exploring Music and Creativity
Early child development is an essential part of moulding our nation’s future by facilitating the holistic development of its future citizens–children. At VOH Chongwe, we believe in stimulating curiosity in young, impressionable minds and equipping them with tools to become well-rounded adults. This is why we give our children opportunities to explore their giftings and creative sides. Music is one outlet that many of our children are talented in, and we always look for opportunities to discover and cultivate their musical talents!
VOH Kitwe (Zambia) Update: Height and Weight Measurements!
This week at VOH Kitwe, we took height and weight measurements of every child from pre-school up to Grade 12. Our medical personnel are responsible for this annual program, and the children–especially the young ones–always have fun when it’s time for heights and weights! This type of tracking is vital because it helps us monitor children’s growth and identify those who may be malnourished or are not growing at a healthy rate. Identifying any stunts in growth alerts us to intervene and assist them with additional nutritional support and medical attention.
VOH Luongo (Zambia) Update: Mosquito Nets
VOH Luongo is located in a swampy area, which causes the children to often get sick from malaria because of the mosquitos that live and breed in the area. This week, we are happy to share that in the quest to curb malaria, each child in our care received a treated mosquito net for malaria prevention. The teachers also educated the children on the importance of sleeping under a treated net. The children’s guardians were very thankful for this extra level of care. The teaching staff were happy, too, because now malaria cases will decrease and the children won’t be missing classes.
VOH Malawi Update: Kauma Project Operations Committee
This week at VOH Malawi, we had a productive meeting with our Kauma Project Operations Committee (KPOC). This committee comprises block leaders, chiefs, sheiks, and pastors from all around Kauma. The committee helps VOH Malawi in many ways. During the intake process, they help with notifying the community that we will be having an intake and encouraging them to bring their kids to be enrolled. They also pay regular visits so they are up to date on the progress of the centre’s projects and can answer any questions that may arise from the community. At the end of the meeting, we gave all members a VOH Malawi 2022 calendar with pictures of our kids and one of our recently completed projects. Everyone was happy with what they saw and heard! Meetings like this are a big motivation to the great work that the KPOC is doing, and giving them a calendar as a small token of appreciation gives them a sense of belonging.
VOH Maramvya (Burundi) Update: Keeping Things Clean
At VOH Maramvya, we make sure every corner of our property is clean. Cleanliness and hygiene are a high priority at our centre! In addition to ongoing activities to keep our centre clean, we also have one day each week dedicated to cleaning. On these days, we include the children so they can learn how to care for their own homes and spaces. They love being a part of the cleaning activities and have a lot of fun working together! We also encourage the children to be role models in their community and help out at home to keep everything clean and tidy!
VOH Mongu (Zambia) Update: Welcome, Roxy!
This week at VOH Mongu, we loved having Roxy with us. Roxy is a teacher by profession and loves to be around kids. She is joining our discipleship team, and she will also be helping with the kids that need extra assistance with their studies. We are so privileged to have her here with us! She is passionate about kids and has a huge heart for them. We know she will be a real blessing to our entire centre. Welcome to the team, Roxy!
VOH Zimbabwe Update: Family Month
At VOH Zimbabwe’s on-campus Hope Church, February was Family Month. The focus was on families, and all of the teachings and discussions centred around the family. Each Sunday, family units were given an opportunity to be involved in an activity. Everyone was free to choose how they wanted to participate. Some chose singing, others ushering or helping the service coordinators. The families who live in children’s homes at VOH Zimbabwe mainly decided to prepare a song to sing during the Sunday service. Each housemother joined her children as they sang for their church family. It was a great opportunity for the kids to be involved and to explore their talents! It was also an excellent opportunity for their guardians to lead by example when it comes to being involved in church.