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After three years, we are thrilled at the chance to reunite with our friends in Africa! We are just a day away from traveling to Zambia and Malawi, meeting with our colleagues and discussing their hopes for future developments. With the Wasaidizi (D.R. Congo community health worker) team coming into Zambia to meet with us, it will be a pleasure to brainstorm with teams from three countries and visit the community centers that have been constructed since the last visit!

Stay tuned for photos, stories, and updates that will surely be coming after our time with our partners.

Our 2021 Annual Report is here and we are so excited to share about the amazing things accomplished through generosity and partnership with our health workers and school colleagues! Pictured are impact statistics from just last year.

If you receive our mailings, this should be in your mailbox this week! You can also take a look at the digital copy here.

Just as we are volunteer-led in the communities where we serve, we are also volunteer-supported in our operations in so many ways! This annual report (and others before it) was designed by a skilled volunteer, and the pieces were prepared for mailing by volunteers. We're so grateful!

We are celebrating the many people, including YOU, who make this impact possible! Thank you!

In Gorkha, Nepal, our health worker colleague Ramprasad plans to start a new phase of latrine building. Over the past few years, Ramprasad has led efforts to build 31 latrines in the region to improve health and sanitation, identified as a top priority in rebuilding efforts following a devastating earthquake. They plan to build 75 latrines in phases. Last week, prior to this new phase of latrine construction, Ramprasad facilitated health camps to continue educating the Gorkha community about the importance of sanitation and children’s nutrition. Nepal team lead, Pinkey, also came to support and teach. These ongoing health education meetings, both in Nepal and our partner sites in Africa, are important for several reasons: new attendees may not have this information, families who attended prior may need to be refreshed on best practices, and all attendees can see and interact with the local community health worker(s) who serves as an advocate for them and their families.

A short video of Ramprasad and Pinkey teaching can be found on our YouTube channel here. We are proud to support volunteers like Ramprasad as they educate and empower their communities!

May 15th is recognized by the United Nations as International Day of Families, stating that: “This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.”

One of the major issues faced in the Copperbelt, Zambia, has been access to education, particularly for orphans and vulnerable children. When surveys were conducted by our community health worker colleagues in 2009, this was the biggest need identified by caregivers. Since then, we’ve been building schools and programs that provide equitable education, consistent meals, grief support for orphans, advocacy for girls, and much more. These issues would not have been addressed without advocacy from families.

We are thrilled that still, twelve years later, the parent and caretaker committees (PCSC) at our sister schools are active and meet each term to discuss the needs and issues children are facing. Today we celebrate the many families who continue to advocate for children in the communities that we serve and across the world!

Last week, on May 5th, we held our first Sounds of the Season concert! Focusing on new gardens and nutrition programs in Malawi and Zambia, we were thrilled to host a hybrid in-person and online event at Graceland University. Our talented friend, Jack Ergo, was our featured performer, along with Tessla Michael and Salume Osakue as guest musicians.

Our goal for the concert was to raise funds to build two large sheds for the gardening efforts at two (out of four) HealthEd Connect volunteer-led community centers. These sheds are the dream of our health worker colleagues for storing seeds, tools, and excess crops to be used and shared with children and families over time.

Thanks to generous support, we far exceeded that goal! We can build THREE garden sheds (plus more towards a 4th) to support important nutrition programs in Malawi and Zambia! Our friends will have the space and resources needed to grow nutritious food that will help reduce malnutrition and stunting in children. We’re feeling joyful, knowing that this makes a wonderful impact in women, children, and families' lives through these expanded gardening efforts.

Stay tuned for details about our next Sounds of the Season event in late summer!

P.S. A recording of our concert is available on our YouTube channel! Check it out here.

Earlier this month, a group of six teachers from our three sister schools in Zambia went on an adventure to the Lower Zambezi National Park! They joined with other teachers from the area, and the knowledgeable professionals at Conservation Lower Zambezi spent three days educating the group about environmental protection and conservation, with curriculum to take back to their schools.

In addition to learning the curriculum, our colleagues had the opportunity to go on a safari, a boat tour, and see wildlife in their native country first-hand. Agness, a teacher from Mapalo, shared this about her experience: “l saw an impala standing still l thought it was carved one because l am used to seeing carved ones and when it moved that's when l realized that l was seeing real animals - it was amazing.”

Now, they can share this important information with their fellow teachers and students at our schools! Martha, a teacher from Zamtan, shared, “I hope to implement what I learnt by educating pupils on the…importance of [the] ecosystem and also educate learners on how to care for the environment, conserve wildlife and appreciate nature…” This was a wonderful opportunity to make new connections and gain new information to share!

In Rai Village, Nepal, team lead Pinkey and fellow community health worker volunteers gathered local students for a school supply event! This was an event that was held annually prior to the COVID pandemic to provide children with much-needed school supplies, and the group was excited to meet again.

Supplies distributed included pens, pencils, paper, and coloring materials; masks for both students and parents were provided as well. While visiting, the volunteers encouraged children to regularly attend school, take precautionary health measures, and study hard. Many of the children have been using the small library established through the generosity of HealthEd Connect supporters, and are eagerly looking for new stories and books to fill their minds!

It’s reassuring to see reunions like this one in Rai Village after so long apart due to the pandemic, and we are sharing in the joy you can see on the student’s faces!

In Luapula, Zambia, Kafwa health worker Gabriel Muposhi has been a pillar in his community since 1995. Among the first of the health workers trained by Sherri Kirkpatrick, he has continued to provide loving care to ill community members, orphaned children, and families looking for information about nutrition and sanitation. Gabriel's training, volunteer service, and respect also earned him a spot at the local government health clinic, where he serves alongside doctors and nurses.

When asked about his time as a health worker, Gabriel stated that he wishes to continue serving as a community health worker as long as he can, and it makes him very happy to be a part of HealthEd Connect. The pride he has for his work is clear, and his fellow Kafwa members enjoyed hearing his stories of the many lives he’s touched. We are grateful for lifetime community health workers like Gabriel who help to make their communities happier and healthier!

Today, on World Health Day, we uplift the important work of our colleagues as they advocate for the health, education, and empowerment of the women and children around them.

When we consider health and the many barriers to access, it becomes easy to overlook an overarching barrier: a healthy planet. Environmental distress passes on to its inhabitants, and it is showing as we look at monumental levels of malnutrition (19.1 percent of Africa’s population is undernourished) and thirst. 

Our colleagues and supporters both have identified two ways to address such large issues: utilizing the land granted to them at community centers for gardening and enrichment programs, and exploring conservation efforts so that both teachers and students can be better informed on ways to support the land and animals of Zambia. At the community centers in Malawi and Zambia, sustainable agriculture is the next big focus of the community health workers, to address hunger and stewardship of their plots. In the interest of conservation, some of our teacher colleagues will be spending time at Conservation Lower Zambezi, gaining valuable knowledge to share with their peers and students. 

We are grateful for the efforts of all of our colleagues as they focus on providing access to healthcare and education, nourishment for children and families, and loving support for the most vulnerable. 

Our colleagues at Mapalo Young Peacemakers School are excited about new additions to their communication center! After much planning and preparation, new computers, routers, and a printer have been installed at the school. Students will have improved internet access, and the printer/scanner will make homework preparation much easier for teachers. Kafwa volunteers at the school will be able to share their reports more easily, and all will benefit from the increased communication access. Both Emmanuel Mumba, Mapalo head teacher, and Mr. Makayi Phiri, a local technician, have been instrumental in this development.

We are excited for our friends and grateful for the many supporters who make these opportunities possible!

Groundwater may not be seen, but its impact is critical, as is our need to protect it. Almost all of the liquid freshwater in the world is groundwater, supporting drinking water supplies, sanitation systems, farming, industry, and ecosystems. But in many areas, human activities over-use and pollute groundwater. Communities we partner with have seen decreases in water availability, and the continuation of climate change will only make the resource more scarce. As water sources become depleted, families must use precious time and limited resources to collect life-sustaining water. Families already at risk of inequity will feel these impacts first. Community education, collaboration, and governance are needed to protect groundwater and balance the needs of people and the planet.

This World Water Day, we invite you to educate yourself on the importance of groundwater and how to be a good steward of it. Access to safe water is not guaranteed and should be protected to the best of our ability!

To find more resources on groundwater and World Water Day, visit: https://www.worldwaterday.org/learn

Over the weekend, we received an uplifting message from teacher Mavis Mubanga at Mapalo Young Peacemakers School - photos of students enjoying a physical education class!

On Fridays, teachers and students have time for creative education studies like PE, gardening, drama, and sports. Big smiles on each face show just how joyful this time is! Mavis leads the students in stretches and games, teaching the importance of movement and playfulness.

We are grateful to have wonderful educators at the sister schools in Zambia like Mavis, who take the time to nurture both the bodies and minds of the students!

How will you “Break the Bias” this International Women’s Day? We choose to celebrate the achievement of the women we work with and bring awareness to the inequalities the next generation of women face. 

In all 4 countries where we serve, community health workers educate girls about their menstrual cycle and hygiene in an environment where they feel comfortable and unashamed. Women are taught family planning so they can have more control over the number of children they have. Children are weighed and monitored throughout their first five years of life, making sure they are developing on track and have the chance to thrive. These are things that often can be taken for granted, but can make a world of difference.

In Zambia, our Girls Achievement Program (GAP) for grades 5-7 directly addresses the education bias by teaching about female development and hygiene, emphasizing how important it is for girls to stay in school and avoid early marriage, and promoting leadership development. After completing 7th grade, HealthEd Connect provides GAP scholarships for girls to continue their education through 12th grade, while offering academic and emotional support from a life coach. The Keeping In Touch (KIT) Club connects the two programs, giving younger girls the opportunity to connect with and be uplifted by the older girls who have continued on to pursue their high school certification. This cycle of role models helps to encourage GAP students that their education is important and worth the effort. 

We are grateful for all of the strong women who make HealthEd Connect an organization that actively works to “break the bias” and empower women!

For more resources on International Women’s Day, click here.

Young Peace Makers Community School was recently featured on the national news in Zambia! This was through collaboration with a community-based organization, Youth Changing the Mindset Organisation (YCMO). YCMO raises awareness among youth about avoiding early marriages, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and substance abuse while encouraging youth to focus on education. Through ties with local government offices and community schools, YCMO meets with teenage students to discuss the hard topics faced by children in the community and the importance of reporting abuse.

At all three sister schools, the Girls Achievement Program (GAP) and Keeping in Touch (KIT) Club engages in these important lessons and conversations primarily with female students. As head teacher Emmanuel Mumba shared, YCMO provided a helpful backup to what they are already doing at the school and sees potential for further partnership.

The importance of sharing this information and encouragement should not be understated. As explained by Mumba, children who are educated will make good decisions that will go on to benefit their communities. By empowering these boys and girls, their futures and that of their community will be brighter!

To see a video highlighting the work of YCMO and a short interview with Mumba, click here!

Our friends in the D.R. Congo are preparing for a community center in Kikungu! A project of this magnitude takes a great deal of planning, and team leader, Josephine, has the process well underway. From surveying community needs, to gaining community support, donation of land from village chiefs, drawing plans, finding contractors, and preparing for programs, it takes time and patience for each center to take shape.

To see what the planning and building process looks like, Josephine took a trip across the Luapula River into Zambia to visit the new community center in Mulundu! After this visit, additional ideas are flowing and plans continue to be developed. The primary objective of the Kikungu center will be to support orphans and vulnerable children through skills training and counseling, led by the Wasaidizi volunteers.

We are excited to see how the Kikungu center grows, and grateful for all of the support and hard work that will make it happen!

Friday is International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and we’re thrilled to support bright women in health sciences on their journey to becoming professional nurses!

Through the Professional Nurses Scholarship, HealthEd Connect is currently supporting nine students in their training to be capable health care workers with hearts for their communities. Some have been volunteer health workers before starting their nursing courses. Others were students at our sister schools in Zambia, and recent graduates of our GAP high school scholarship, like Everlyn and Carol (pictured above). Having strong, educated women in the scientific and healthcare industry is hugely important, as they become agents of change in accelerating gender equality and economic development. We are so grateful to the many supporters who make this scholarship possible, as these nursing students will uplift their communities and future patients alike!

To learn more about International Day of Women and Girls in Science, recognized by the United Nations, visit: https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-and-girls-in-science-day/

In Zambia, students are just beginning their school year, and for our students who are moving into new stages of their education journey, this is especially exciting!

Our friends at Mapalo Young Peace Makers School hosted the 2022 GAP and General Scholars to gather their high school supplies and prepare them for the upcoming year. Thanks to heartfelt generosity, these high school scholarships provide their school fees, uniforms, shoes, books and supplies, backpacks, and wrap-around academic support through our Keeping In Touch program.

Head teacher Emmanuel Mumba shared:

“This was an exciting moment for the learners as they received their requisites with gratitude and the student representative thanked the HealthEd Connect partners for the support…Thank you once again friends for the unwavering support in an effort to uplift life.”

Seeing our students empowered and excited to grow their knowledge makes our hearts sing!

Though we’re several weeks into the new year, we’ve been receiving the year-end reports from our colleagues in the field and wanted to extend our gratitude! Seeing the sheer number of lives touched because of the generosity of supporters and volunteers alike makes our hearts sing! We invite you to share in this joy as we celebrate just some of the many ways women and children were uplifted in 2021!

61,862 Babies weighed and monitored to ensure they are growing and developing

58,623 Mothers taught about nutrition, sanitation, and the importance of immunization

40,465 Immunizations given to protect infants and children as they grow

208,736 Nutritious lunches served to orphans and vulnerable children at our 3 sister schools

4,500 Books checked out of school libraries

1,446 Orphans and vulnerable children educated with love at our 3 sister schools

Amazing things are achieved because of the wonderful effort and heart of supporters, teachers, and community health workers alike! THANK YOU to all who make HealthEd Connect’s mission possible!

We want to share a bit more about the orphan support group in D.R. Congo! To read the first part of our story, click here.

As we rang in 2022, we heard from the D.R. Congo team lead, Josephine, about their own New Year’s celebration with the orphan support group in Lubumbashi. Dressed in lovely matching outfits, the children had a wonderful time at the party put on by the Wasaidizi.

When we asked about the beautiful outfits and who had made them, Josephine explained that they were hand-made by the first orphan support group!

“Yes the Wasaidizi paid for the fabric but it is the former orphans who sewed for them…They are the orphans of the first group of 2018. Ruth Banza supervised them and also taught them tailoring.”

The orphan support groups are special because they create a space for new connections and familial bonds to be built between the children. How special it is to see the older group come together to make something beautiful for the younger ones to enjoy!