The Story of Chibote Community
In 2009, a woman named Ruth saw the challenging situations that many children in Chibote were living in and decided to do something about it. Together with four friends, they began walking through the community visiting the homes of orphaned and vulnerable children. Ruth says, “I wanted to help them grow the way that God planned for them to grow. I wanted to open their minds to the fact that things could be different, and I did my best to help them spiritually, physically and emotionally.” These home visits consisted of helping with household chores and homework, or simply sitting and praying with the child and their family.
Children currently supported: 100
12 Care Workers Coordinated by Mercy
Basic Services Started in 2013
12 KM from the Kitwe Local Office
That same year, the women found a building where they could start grade 1 schooling for the children they had met, in addition to visiting them in their homes. It was through their passion that the Butemwe Community Based Organisation (CBO) was born! In 2008, Hands at Work, inspired by their compassionate hearts, partnered with the Butemwe CBO in their desire to bring hope to orphaned and vulnerable children. Hands at Work mobilised additional Care Workers from the local church and provided essential training to the volunteer Care Workers, modelling how to walk with the children and sharing the importance of providing a parental role for the children.
By 2013, 100 children were receiving the essential services of a hot, nutritious meal daily and support with their education and basic health care from the Butemwe CBO. In 2016, the Butemwe CBO had a change in leadership as Ruth transitioned into her role as part the local Hands at Work team in Kitwe. As a result, Care Worker Mercy stepped up as a strong leader, keeping the Butemwe CBO healthy and well-equipped to care for their children, which increased from 100 to 150 children in 2018.
In 2016, there were 20 children who were transitioned from the local community school in Chibote to the government school, having scoring exceptionally well on their standard entrance tests! This was very encouraging to the Butemwe CBO, the Care Workers and the teachers from the community school.
In 2017, the Butemwe CBO, with the support of the local Hands at Work team in Kitwe, moved to a new location with the hopes of becoming a thriving Life Centre. A place not just for feeding but a place for the love of Christ to bring healing and holistic care for the children and their families.
Meet Zechariah
After three years of attending the Care Point, it is easy to see the progress that seven-year-old Zechariah* has made. Malnourished and unkempt, Zechariah arrived with an empty belly and a broken heart. His mother had died and his father had left home, and Zechariah nursed within himself a deep emptiness. The family was discovered when the Care Workers made a Holy Home Visit in search of the most vulnerable. Finding Selah* and her three grandsons, the Care Workers listened to her story. They quickly realized that Selah, alone and with only subsistence farming as an income, was ill-equipped to look after Zechariah and his brothers and was unable to obtain enough food for them to eat. Acting quickly, the Care Workers invited Zechariah to the Care Point where he would receive a hot meal every day. Now, running around with his friends and in grade 1 at school, Zechariah is thriving.
The local Hands at Work team in Kitwe currently supports seven Community Based Organisations, which exist to care for the most vulnerable in their communities. The office provides training, networking, and encouragement to those Community Based Organisations like Butemwe. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.
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