The Story of Kamaila Community
For people living in the community of Kamaila, most days are a struggle to make ends meet. Kamaila is far from any paved roads, shops or any other kinds of businesses. The people look to the surrounding large commercial farms for work or find odd jobs in the community. Although there are many fields that people can use to plant their crops, the inconsistency of the rains (either too much or too little) makes securing a successful harvest difficult. As a sign of their brokenness and trauma, many people turn to drinking and prostitution.
100 Children currently supported
23 Care Workers Coordinated by quinn
Basic Services Started in 2022
Peter is a member of the local Hands at Work team in Chisamba, a small town which is the hub of regional farming activity. He has known about Kamala and its vulnerability since 2014. However, it was not until recently that the local Hands at Work team in Chisamba had the capacity to expand their care. In 2021, members of the Chisamba team began visiting the community and doing Holy Home Visits to the most vulnerable families. They met with the community headman, who also happens to be the pastor of a church there. Sharing the heart and concept behind Hands at Work, this man grasped the vision, and his wife became the first Care Worker in Kamaila.
The headman and his wife called for Care Workers from the few small churches, asking if there was anyone in their congregations who had a heart to serve sacrificially. With this vision well received, a number of men and women stood and committed to being Care Workers. Many of the Care Workers are also the Primary Caregivers for the children who they care for.
From there, the Chisamba team walked with and invested into the Care Workers, demonstrating the importance of Holy Home Visits and caring for children not only physically but spiritually and emotionally as well. After identifying 54 of the most vulnerable children, the Kamaila CBO officially began serving children in 2022. Since then, seeing the immense need in the community, the number of children being served has grown to 100.
Meet Kennedy
Kennedy’s* life is one amazing testimony of the thriving Under 5’s program at the Kamaila CBO. After being born with a life-threatening illness, being abandoned by his father at birth, and his mother passing away when he was only a year old, Kennedy’s life had a challenging start. He was extremely malnourished and vulnerable. Kennedy’s aunt brought him into her home with her seven children but unfortunately, the few odd jobs she could find could not bring in enough income to support the family. Thankfully, with the CBO opening in 2022, Kennedy was identified along with his cousins and brought under the care of the CBO, and Kennedy joined the Under 5’s program. He loves being at the Care Point and playing with the other children. Kennedy is often the first one there in the morning, ready to receive a bowl of porridge and excited for the fun that will be had that day!
The local Hands at Work team in Chisamba currently supports five 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 Miswa. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.
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