Comments and Notes:
2007-09-17 "I know I can do something" http://zambianchildrensfund.org
"..even as far away as Zambia." That's what Kathe Padilla said to herself on reading a newspaper article on the plight of Zambian children back in July 1999. Who hasn't read about starvation in Africa? For most readers, it seems perhaps too remote, too difficult a problem to face. Its not even news except in extreme cases and is even a cliche in casual conversation. But to millions of children and heartbroken grandparents, it's simply a reality.
Padilla had experience organizing a new initiative for the Community Food Bank here in Tucson - a project to collect and distribute perishable food items - and she went right to work on helping Zambian children. By October, she had completed a trip to Zambia and recruited a board of directors from local churches and NGO's. Now, nine years later, the Zambian Children's Fund has built the Chishawasha Orphanage which houses, feeds and educates about 35 children in the city of Lusaka. Another 60 or so go to its school, and it runs a project to assist the Abulyas - the grandmothers - who in some cases are struggling to support as many as 20 orphaned relatives.
Padilla's work has made it possible for many Tucsonans to contribute in small ways. Every two years, the Fund sends a forty-foot shipping crate to Lusaka packed full of desks, mattresses, clothes, books, school supplies, tools, etc. The donations come from many sources, but a large portion plus much of the volunteer labor for packing the crate comes from Tucson individuals, businesses and groups.
Simply by dropping off a children's book to the ZCF office, or participating in a 'packing party' (held most Wednesdays thru the fall and winter), its possible to make a direct impact, however small, on the huge, devastating problems one reads about in the newspaper.
For more information please visit http://www.zambianchildrensfund.org --gv
2007-09-07 July Newsletter http://btucson.com/pdfs/zambiancf_JUL_Newsletter.pdf
Volunteers for the Zambian Children's Fund loaded up a 40-foot shipping container with the past two years of donations, including desks, tools, clothes and lots of books. Read an inspiring blog post by volunteer Jim Strader, find out about the new grant from the Redwood Foundation for projects promoting self-sufficiency, and see a photo exhibit of the children's work, directed by New York professional photographer Klaus Schoenwiese.
Note the newsletter link here is temporary until the newsletter is posted to the offical site. It takes you to the full newsletter, in any case. --zambiancf
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