AN ORPHANAGE IN ZAMBIA
By the time you read this article, Father Dil will have undergone much needed heart surgery and will be back in Zambia. Hopefully he will be taking things easy for a while, which will be hard, since it is not in his nature to do so.
I received information in January that the Continuing Anglican Church of Zambia had acquired 8 small houses and 3 flats from the Makeni Ecumenical Centre in the area. This group of buildings, referred to as a "village," is in the middle of the Centre, and very well located.
This village has been registered with the proper authorities as an AIDS orphanage. The need is great. 35% of the population of Zambia is reported to be infected with HIV. There are literally thousands of children whose parents have died from AIDS. While many people attempt to give shelter to their relatives' children, financial conditions in Zambia have made it impossible to adopt these orphans. The result is that many become "street children," left uncared for by anyone.
Considerable improvements to the property were required by the government before the orphanage could be authorized to begin receiving children. These improvements have been made to Orphanage Village, and the government has given the license to open. The first children will arrive late in January.
The babies will be cared for by 2 housemothers, and the older children will attend school at the Centre. The children will be offered secondary education if funds are available to support them. If not, they will undergo skill training such as carpentry, agriculture, tailoring, electronics and computer skills. The first group will consist of 30 children.
Much of the progress made to date has been based on faith that God will provide. He has so far, making this project a reality. Money is needed for the support of these children and the operation of the orphanage. Father Dil is to be commended for his hard work in this gigantic project he has undertaken. One can be assured that when these children are ready to leave the orphanage and go out on their own that they will be prepared not only for a secular life but also a spiritual life steeped in the traditional Anglican Faith.