Day 33 - Pray for Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in Zambia (#40Days2025)

Day 33 - Pray for Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in Zambia

In Zambia, there are 501 Care Workers who have committed to caring for the most vulnerable children. In many communities in Zambia and across Africa, the Care Workers are also the Primary Caregivers of the children they serve. A Primary Caregiver is the mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings or other relatives who live with the children coming to the Care Point. The Chisamba, Kabwe, Kitwe and Luanshya Service Centres* invite you to pray for the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in their region:

• “Pray that God continue giving us rain so that we can have good harvest. Pray that God give wisdom to our Primary Caregivers and Care Workers because most of them are grandmothers and they are struggling with basic needs.” – Monica, Service Centre* Member (Zambia), sharing on behalf of Kabwe Service Centre*.

• “Pray for the Primary Caregivers as we are walking with them. Pray for God to intervene in their lives, that they can love God and know him in truth. Pray for our Care Workers and Primary Caregivers who have planted their fields to have a good harvest this year.” – Emeldah, Service Centre* Coordinator (Zambia), sharing on behalf of the Kitwe Service Centre*.

• “Because of pain and loss of their loved ones, many of our Primary Caregivers have run to drinking, thinking it is the way to ease their inner pain. Our prayer is that God can bring healing in their lives so that they may come to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of our Care Workers are single mothers because their husbands have run away from them. Many are bitter and struggle with unforgiveness. Let’s pray for God’s deliverance.” – Cecelia, Service Centre* Coordinator (Zambia), sharing on behalf of the Chisamba Service Centre*.

• “Most of our Care Workers and Primary Caregivers are struggling to meet the needs of their children as most of them are single mothers whose men prefer drinking than being supportive. And many don’t spend much with their children as they spend much time doing odd jobs in the community. Let’s pray for God’s provision.” – Sylvia, Service Centre* Coordinator (Zambia), sharing on behalf of the Luanshya Service Centre*

To learn more about Zambia, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https://www.handsatwork.org/zambia-links

Day 32 – Pray for Our Communities in Zambia (#40Days2025)

Day 32 – Pray for Our Communities in Zambia

Within Zambia, there are 28 communities being supported and cared for:

• Kamaila, Malakata, Miswa, Mutaba (supported by the Chisamba Service Centre)

• Baraka, Chabota, Chilipamushi, Malakota A/B, Malakota C, Nissi and Susu (supported by the Kabwe Service Centre)

• Amlew, Kamakonde, Mulenga, Mwaiseni, Racecourse, Zimba A and Zimba B (supported by the Kitwe Service Centre)

• Chibuli, Chilabula, Kalende, K Block 1, K Block 2, K Block 3, Katetaula, Maposa, Maranatha, Mount Moriah (supported by the Luanshya Service Centre)

Today we invite you to pray for the challenges that exist across all communities:

• “Due to the drought Zambia experienced last year, there has been a huge increase in prices of goods and services which has made the cost of living to be high. Pray that people will move away from complaining and focus on working and making use of every opportunity.

• Alcohol drinking and smoking is becoming popular to many young people in Zambia, which has brought an increase in crime and high number of school dropouts. Pray for restoration of our younger people and peace to continue in the land.

• In most part of the country, farm fields of maize plants and other types have grown well, please pray for good harvest this year.” – Jimmy, Regional Support Team Member (Zambia)

To learn more about the Zambia, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https://www.handsatwork.org/zambia-links

Day 29 – Welcome to Zambia (#40Days2025)

Day 29 – Welcome to Zambia

Zambia is one of eight countries that Hands at Work is serving in across Africa. Zambia has a population of 21,056,420 people, with 57% of the population living in extreme poverty. Ranking 153 out of 187 on the Human Development Index, 58,000 children are living with HIV/AIDS and 390,000 children have been orphaned because of this life-threatening illness. – Sources: UNAID, UNDP, World Poverty Clock

As we start the week, please join us in praying for the country of Zambia:

• “Pray for the country Zambia as the cost of living now is very high and that makes it very difficult for the most vulnerable families to have access to food and any other basic needs.

• Pray for the campaign that will start in preparation for the general election that we’ll have next year August; that the campaigns will be peaceful and there will be no shed of blood nor any violence during the campaign till the election.

• We thank God for the good rains that we have been receiving and let’s pray that this rain continues and not stop along the way before it’s the right time to stop.” – Luwis, Service Centre Coordinator (Zambia)

• ⁠”Load-shedding (national scheduled power outages) is one of the bigger problems Zambia is facing. Most communities receive 6 to 12 hours of electric power. This has led to closing of many businesses and loss of jobs, people are stressed and frustrated. Pray that the rain continues to the point of filling our rivers so that hours of electricity power supply can go back to normal.” – Jimmy, Regional Support Team Leader (Zambia)

To learn more about the Zambia, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https://www.handsatwork.org/zambia-links

”For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.“ - Psalm72:12-14

When Xolani was asked, “If you could ask people to pray for one thing in your country, what would it be?” he shared, “Pray for our Primary Caregivers – they carry much pain and brokenness. Some have started drinking, which can put the lives of the children that we are caring for at risk. Pray for healing; many have been abandoned and have been left with young children to care for and they are struggling. The need is huge.

This year, as we go deeper into what it means to care for our Primary Caregivers, I will invite people to pray for us for wisdom. Pray for the Primary Caregivers as Relationship Groups take shape, as we spend time in their homes and bring Jesus. Pray for the word to set in and for them to find freedom. Pray for the Care Points to become a place of life for them where they can come and be served. Pray that they will get more involved and take full ownership of the work happening in their community and in the lives of their children. Pray that they will experience Jesus.” (Xolani, Zambian Regional Support Team Leader)

Day 16 - Care Workers and Primary Caregivers across Zambia (#40Days2024)

In many communities in Zambia and across Africa, the Care Workers are also the Primary Caregivers of the children they serve. A Primary Caregiver is the mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings or other relatives of the children coming to the Care Point.

• “Many of the Primary Caregivers are women, and though the husbands are around, they are not involved in caring for their children and many struggle with alcohol abuse. Some have even left the family to get remarried. With only one source of income, many Primary Caregivers struggle to put food on the table. They end up doing piecework instead of working in their fields because they are desperate to earn anything so that they can put food on the table. They are hardworking, but they are the poorest of the poor, doing work for other people. We can continue praying that they find peace even in the midst of storms, and when they feel alone, we pray that they would have peace.” (Sylvia, Local Leader, Zambia).

Day 14 - Children across Zambia (#40Days2024)

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. - Psalm 127:1-2

Within Zambia, there are 2,955 children being loved and cared for. Today, we invite you to pray for children across Zambia:

• Pray for protection from illnesses like cholera, malaria and typhoid. Pray that they will get the treatment needed.

• “Pray for children who are born to parents who have a disability like epilepsy or blindness. Also, we can pray for children whose parents suffer from severe learning disabilities and poor mental health. We can pray that God will protect them and will raise many people like the Care Workers who can help and take those children into their homes like our own children.

• We know that if God doesn’t build, we are building in vain. We know that God is the one who can protect and care for these children. Unless God does it, if we are just doing it, we are just doing it in vain.” (Michael, Regional Support Team Leader, Zambia)

Semba* is one of the 2955 children across Zambia. He lives in the community of Amlew.

Four-year-old Semba and her family face great challenges every day. Semba’s mother suffers from epilepsy. Her father works hard to find and sell firewood, but this is a very meagre income. Much of his income goes towards medication and care for his wife, leaving them without enough. The Care Workers at the Life Centre have hearts to care for children like Semba; and her family is a testament to their efforts! Care Worker Rosemary has drawn this family into the Life Centre, ensuring Semba and her baby brother are bathed, fed every day, and get to enjoy the Under 5’s program. Semba’s mother loves coming to the Life Centre too, and even joins the Relationship Group with the Care Workers. This family knows what it is to be loved wholeheartedly.