The Kafwa volunteers are the heart and soul of programs at Zamtan. They are pictured here showing their appreciation for donations of bandages and triple antiobiotic ointment that were shared with them on a recent site visit.

On a recent site visit to Zambia, we had the opportunity to visit Zamtan and see all the exciting developments taking place. There is a genuine sense of energy and momentum, and it was inspiring to hear and see firsthand the many ways this community continues to grow and thrive.

The Kafwa community health volunteer team has grown, and so has the school. New facilities, including the Skills Center and Kafwa Hall, now stand ready to be equipped for programming in cooking and technology studies, creating new opportunities for learning and skill development. A new ablution block (toilet facilities) is currently under construction, while fresh paint and newly installed pavers provide the finishing touches that make the campus sparkle. The community is feeling happy and proud—and so are the Kafwa!

In the past, this area was covered by dirt. In the rainy season, this busy area would be covered in mud. Now that it is paved, this area provides a much cleaner environment for the hundreds of school children who fill this school yard.

A new ablution block is under construction and anticipated to be completed by August, 2026.

The Kafwa are the reason a community school was established here. Years ago, they identified a large number of orphans and vulnerable children who were not attending school because their families could not afford fees and supplies. Starting small, they took action. Today, the school has grown alongside the happy, thriving children who learn here every day.

The Kafwa continue to support students by preparing meals, leading an orphans support group, and facilitating the Girls Achievement Program. They also provide dignified healthcare to community members. During our visit, they proudly showed us a large garden they have cultivated to provide nutritious food for children and home-based care clients, while generating income through produce sales to sustain their work.

The Kafwa were excited to share with us their very large and abundant garden!

This is what community-led development looks like. When local leaders identify challenges, mobilize their neighbors, and commit to long-term solutions, transformation happens. Children gain access to education. Families receive healthcare and support. Communities build assets that create opportunity for generations to come.

What began with a small group of volunteers determined to help vulnerable children has grown into a thriving hub of education, health, and hope. The impact extends far beyond buildings—it is visible in the confidence of students, the dedication of volunteers, and the pride of a community creating a brighter future together.

Kafwa member, Lydia, lovingly prepares porridge to be served to school children at Zamtan Community School of Peace.

A school girl enjoys porridge prepared by Kafwa community health volunteers, some of whom also serve as school cooks.

The Kafwa are pictured here with a client for whom they have cared for quite some time, building a strong relationship of trust and care.

The Wasaidizi community health volunteers in Democratic Republic of Congo

As news of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to spread, some of you may be wondering about how it is affecting our partner sites in the DRC. The short answer is encouraging – our partner sites remain unaffected at this time. But there is more to the story.

The current Ebola outbreak is centered in the northeastern region of the DRC, roughly 1,300 miles away from HealthEd Connect partner communities, which are in the southernmost part of the country, in Katanga province (#20 on the map below).

HealthEd Connect sites in both DRC and Zambia are located within the shaded circle near Province #20

As of 3 June 2026, there are no known cases of the Ebola virus in the Katanga province. Despite the absence of cases, preparedness and education remain essential to preventing the spread of Ebola. Proactive efforts help ensure communities are ready to respond quickly if the situation changes.

Misinformation about Ebola remains a significant concern. It is critical to help community members:

• Understand what Ebola is and how it spreads

• Distinguish facts from rumors or myths

• Take appropriate preventative measures based on accurate information

Nathalie Lenge, Wasaidizi volunteer in DRC

This is where our community health volunteers can play a critical role. According to Nathalie Lenge, a Wasaidizi community health volunteer in DRC, the Wasaidizi have been involved in awareness campaigns in their areas. She states that in the DRC there are awareness campaigns in every community and the Wasaidizi are involved in educating people in their communities.

The spread of the Ebola virus is not confined by national boundaries, placing countries bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on high alert. Katanga Province in the DRC shares a border with Zambia, and it is near these border areas that the Zambian Kafwa community health volunteers are actively serving.

Emmanuel Mumba, HealthEd Connect Zambia Programs Coordinator, contacted the District Health Office of Zambia’s Ministry of Health to understand the approach that the Zambian government is taking. The Ministry is currently conducting awareness programs for frontline workers to strengthen prevention measures and ensure early identification of any suspected cases in the event of an outbreak. Additionally, strict measures have been implemented at most of Zambia’s border entry points, where thorough screening procedures are being conducted. So far, the country has not recorded any Ebola cases.

Albertina Mubanga, registered nurse in Chingola, Zambia

According to Albertina Mubanga, a registered nurse and Kafwa volunteer in Chingola, which is near a border crossing, the Kafwa volunteers in Chingola have received training and are ready to begin their own awareness campaigns in the Kasompe community in Chingola.

HealthEd Connect has established a WhatsApp discussion group that connects all our community health volunteer contacts and nurses in the three African countries we are located - DRC, Zambia and Malawi. This platform enables the rapid sharing of critical health information among our health partners, including updates on the Ebola virus. It also enables real-time communication from the field, ensuring everyone stays informed.

Beyond the information exchange, the group also serves as a space to offer encouragement and moral support as volunteers across the three countries express their gratitude and recognition for the important work being carried out in their communities.

While the current outbreak has not reached HealthEd Connect partner sites directly, the situation underscores a vital truth: preparedness saves lives. Thanks to dedicated volunteers providing leadership and education in their communities, community members will be better equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to stay healthy and safe.

For more information on the Ebola virus and the current situation, visit the WHO’s official website: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ebola-disease

Wasaidizi from Kasenga district in the Democratic Republic of Congo gather for training to further develop their skills in giving immunizations.

World Immunization Week, recognized annually April 24-30, and coordinated by the World Health Organization, highlights the collective action needed to protect people against disease through the administration of vaccines. HealthEd Connect community health volunteers promote vaccinations in communities where they live and serve by educating parents about the importance of vaccinating infants, children, and adults of all ages. In several locations, our community health volunteers are trained to administer vaccinations or support local health professionals in vaccination campaigns.

We’re celebrating the lifesaving impact of HealthEd Connect community health volunteers—and the families they serve—by highlighting what consistent, local vaccination efforts can achieve. Over the past nine years, HealthEd Connect community health volunteers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, and Zambia have immunized more than 200,000 people—primarily infants and children. These efforts have helped prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, tuberculosis, tetanus, and whooping cough, strengthening community health and helping save countless lives.

Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to stop outbreaks before they start—protecting not only the person receiving the shot, but also the neighbors, children, and newborns around them.

Joyce Mpungwe vaccinates children at Ebenezer Clinic in Lubumbashi, DRC, where she volunteers twice a week.

Spotlight: The Wasaidizi in DRC

In the DRC, the Wasaidizi community health volunteers continually work to strengthen their skills so they can better serve families. This week, they gathered in Kasenga district for training focused on immunizations and family planning, including hands-on learning to safely administer vaccines. Since January 2026, the Wasaidizi have vaccinated 1,819 infants and children! Their work is endorsed by local doctors and the clinics where they volunteer—showing what’s possible when our volunteers and local health partners work together.

This World Immunization Week, we honor the dedication of community health volunteers who bring protection to the doorstep of families who need it most. When immunization reaches every child, entire communities thrive and diseases become eradicated.

Want to help extend this impact? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn; share this story; and donate to HealthEd Connect community-led health programs that make routine vaccination possible.

Wasaidizi in Kasenga District receive training to further enhance their skills in giving immunizations.

HealthEd Connect /Helping Heart Nepal community health volunteers in Kathmandu partner with clinicians from Mary Stopes Hospital to provide opportunities for women to receive health screenings and education regarding women’s health.

Imagine living in a city of nearly 850,000 people, where opportunity and hardship exist side by side. In Kathmandu, Nepal’s vibrant capital, economic disparity is a daily reality. As many as 40% of households live in poverty or on the edge, often in extremely crowded conditions with limited access to clean water and consistent health services. For many families, preventive care and health education feel out of reach.

Yet within these challenges, hope takes root through care, connection, partnerships, and trust.

Helping Heart Nepal and the Power of Volunteers

In Nepal, HealthEd Connect is locally known as Helping Heart Nepal, and the community health volunteers are called Soyamsebika—a Nepali word meaning “volunteers.” These women are deeply connected to the neighborhoods they serve. They are listeners, advocates, and educators who understand the realities of daily life in Kathmandu’s communities.

Rather than providing short-term interventions, the Soyamsebika focus on long-term relationships. They build trust, listen carefully to community concerns, and respond to real, identified needs. This grassroots approach is what makes their work effective—and sustainable.

A Transformative Partnership With Mary Stopes

A few years ago, the Soyamsebika in Kathmandu began an important partnership with Mary Stopes Hospital, an international NGO dedicated to women’s health services. This collaboration has significantly strengthened the quality and reach of Helping Heart Nepal’s programs.

Together, the Soyamsebika and Mary Stopes facilitate women’s health camps across several communities in Kathmandu. These camps go beyond basic education. They are safe, caring, educational spaces that typically include:

• Women’s health workshops

• Cervical cancer screenings

• Reproductive health counseling

• Open dialogue around sensitive women’s health topics

The presence of trusted local volunteers helps break down fear, stigma, and misinformation.

Training That Strengthens Community Impact

Mary Stopes clinicians have also played a key role in training the Soyamsebika, providing them with deeper knowledge on women’s health topics. This additional training equips volunteers to act as informed, confident advocates within their communities—long after the health camps conclude.

By combining clinical expertise with community trust, this partnership creates a powerful model: professional health care reinforced by local, caring relationships.

“They Stay and Build Relationships”

During a recent trip to Nepal, HealthEd Connect staff and board members had the opportunity to meet Bijaya, a representative from Mary Stopes Hospital. When asked what sets Helping Heart Nepal volunteers apart from others she has worked with, her answer was simple and profound:

“They stay in the communities and build relationships with the people. They listen to the people and address their needs.”

It is this consistency—this willingness to stay, listen, and walk alongside families—that defines the Soyamsebika’s impact. Health isn’t delivered once and forgotten; it is nurtured over time.

Moving Toward Health Equity Together

As we recognize World Health Day today, stories like this remind us that health equity is built by bringing healthcare to communities through strong partnerships, ongoing education, and trusted relationships.

Helping Heart Nepal is just one example of the meaningful partnerships that HealthEd Connect’s community health volunteers have established across the countries we serve. These partnerships strengthen local capacity, expand access to care, and ensure that programs are shaped by the real needs of the communities themselves. In places where resources are limited and challenges are complex, collaboration is essential. By working together—local volunteers, community members, and health organizations—we move closer to a future where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life.

Women gathered together in safe community at a recent health camp in Kathmandu.

Silas and Spiwe are dedicated Sinkhani community health volunteers in Matete, Malawi

At the Matete Sinkhani Community Center in Malawi, two committed community health volunteers—Silas and Spiwe—are transforming the lives of children and families one weighing day at a time. Every month, they host a weighing day for 70-80 children under the age of five, ensuring that each child’s growth is monitored and that early signs of malnutrition or illness are caught before they become life‑threatening.

Working hand-in-hand with Malawi’s Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs)—the government’s frontline community health workers—Silas and Swiwe help create vital opportunities for immunizations, check-ups, and health education. These gatherings have become cornerstones of child wellness in the community. Mothers and caregivers know that on weighing day, they are not just getting measurements—they are receiving trusted guidance and a healthy start for their children.

A Daily Challenge: The Search for Clean Water

Despite the dedication of the volunteers and HSAs, the community center faces a difficult and persistent challenge: there is no clean water source nearby.

Women must walk 2–3 kilometers to fetch water, balancing heavy buckets on their heads, simply so that families can drink water and wash their hands during clinic days.

Lack of clean water impacts not only the weighing days, but also other programming at the center. Fridah is a committed preschool teacher who desires to teach the 40+ preschool age children in her community who want to learn. She cannot meet with them at the center without access to water. Additionally, at the center there is a large plot of land available for a vibrant garden that could provide nourishing vegetables for the community. Without water, they are unable to water their garden during the dry season, greatly impacting their harvest.

The lack of water does more than inconvenience—it limits the center’s full potential to serve as a thriving hub of health, education, and nourishment.

A New Chapter Begins

Recently, however, hope has begun to flow.

Thanks to generous donor support, HealthEd Connect was able to fund the installation of a borehole, which they were able to begin digging in December. A borehole is a shallow well fitted with a pump that brings clean water to the surface, with a spicket for easy access. This borehole has been a dream for years, and its progress represents determination, partnership, and the belief that every community deserves safe water.

Although the rainy season arrived before the team could finish the project, plans are already in place to resume and complete the borehole in April, when the rains subside. The anticipation is palpable. Clean water will mean:

• No more long walks hauling heavy buckets

• Reliable hygiene for weighing days

• A thriving community garden

• A sustainable preschool program

• A healthier future for every child who comes through the center

Celebrating World Water Day - Sunday, March 22

On this World Water Day, we honor the life-sustaining importance of clean water and acknowledge the millions around the world who still struggle to access it.

At HealthEd Connect, we are committed to supporting community-driven solutions—one center, one village, and one borehole at a time. The progress at Matete Sinkhani Community Center is a powerful reminder that when communities come together, positive change becomes possible.

Clean water is more than a resource—it is dignity, opportunity, and life itself.

Members of the garden committee, Fridah (preschool teacher), along with Spiwe, Silas and Patrick, who is the zone coordinator for the area stand in front of the Sinkhani Community Center in Matete. Patrick has been instrumental in coordinating the borehole project.

Drilling for the borehole near the center began in December but will finish in April once the rains subside. The borehole will provide water not only for the center but for the community around it.

Justina, Agness and Theresa joyfully serve their community as members of the Kafwa community health volunteers in Luapula province of Zambia. They are pictured here in front of a large garden that provides nourishing vegetables for the community.

This Sunday marks the 115th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a global day to recognize the achievements, resilience, and impact of women everywhere. At HealthEd Connect, we are proud to celebrate the remarkable women who shape our mission, strengthen our programs, and uplift communities across the world.

From leadership to local action, women are at the heart of everything we do.

Honoring Our Leaders

We celebrate the female leadership at the helm of HealthEd Connect. We honor our visionary founder, Sherri Kirkpatrick, whose passion and dedication helped build the foundation of HealthEd Connect. We also honor our Executive Director, Emily Penrose-McLaughlin, whose compassion, commitment, and leadership continue to guide our organization forward.

Their example and leadership inspire us every day.

Appreciating Our Community Health Volunteers

We give heartfelt recognition to the incredible women who serve as community health volunteers—the backbone of HealthEd Connect. They provide essential health education, support families, and act as trusted advocates for those they serve. Their strength and service make a profound impact every single day.

Kafwa members in Kasompe, Zambia regularly visit homes to provide basic care and nurturing support for those struggling with their health.

Celebrating the Women Who Teach in Our Schools

We also honor the extraordinary women who teach in our community schools. These dedicated educators play a vital role in shaping the future of the communities we serve. Every day, they open doors to learning, create safe spaces for students to grow, and nurture the curiosity and confidence of their learners.

Mavis Mubanga Songwe with her preschool class in Mapalo, Zambia.

Empowering Women and Girls in Our Communities

Perhaps most of all, we celebrate the women and girls in the communities where we serve. Their courage to learn, grow, lead, and advocate for themselves and others is the fuel that keeps our mission alive. Their empowerment creates ripple effects that strengthen entire families and communities.

Three generations of women who have been impacted by HealthEd Connect are inspiring their community in Biratnagar, Nepal.

Here’s to All the Powerful Women of HealthEd Connect

To every woman connected with our organization:
You are our heroes—today and every day.
Your voices, your work, and your unwavering commitment inspire us and move us forward.

Here’s to your strength, your leadership, and your unstoppable impact.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Community residents in Biratnagar sit in a clean area, with accessible trash bins located nearby.

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Sanitation.
It’s not a pretty word. It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t often make headlines. In many developed countries—including the United States—we rarely think twice about it. Our garbage is collected weekly without fail. Our homes and workplaces have flushing toilets and sinks with clean running water. These basics feel automatic.

But for many of our partner communities around the world, sanitation is far from guaranteed. And the consequences are not merely inconvenient—they’re dangerous.

Identifying a Critical Need

During a recent site visit to Nepal, we met with Sangeeta Poudel, a dedicated professional nurse who lives in Biratnagar, an urban city with many suburbs. In addition to her full-time work, she serves as community health volunteer for HealthEd Connect, along with serving as the site coordinator for that area.

Using HealthEd Connect’s evidence-based, community-driven approach, Sangeeta and the residents in her community identified sanitation as a major health concern. Trash was everywhere—lining walkways, piling along paths, and accumulating in open spaces.

This wasn’t just unsightly. It was dangerous.

Why Sanitation Matters

Improper waste disposal poses serious health risks, especially for the most vulnerable—pregnant women, children, and the elderly. Garbage can harbor parasites, viruses, flies, and rodents, and it can contaminate nearby water sources, exposing communities to diseases such as:

• Diarrheal illnesses

• Parasitic infections

• Waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid

• Skin and respiratory problems

During the rainy season, contaminated water often floods homes and walkways, spreading illness even further.

It became clear: sanitation wasn’t a cosmetic issue—it was a critical health priority.

Community-Led Action and Lasting Solutions

Sangeeta and the HealthEd Connect community health volunteers—known locally as Soyamsebika—sprang into action. They organized health camps (workshops) to educate families about the dangers of improper trash disposal and to brainstorm feasible, culturally appropriate solutions.

Together, the communities decided to install trash bins throughout the area, giving residents a simple and accessible way to dispose of waste properly. From there, the trash collected in these bins is gathered and transported to designated disposal sites, ensuring waste is no longer accumulating where families live, walk, and play.

And the impact?

Transformational.

When we visited, the pathways and gathering areas were remarkably clean. Residents now take pride in maintaining their environment—regularly using the bins and even organizing community cleanup days. What began as a simple intervention has grown into an ongoing movement for community health.

A Cleaner Environment. A Healthier Future.

This initiative is a powerful reminder that meaningful change doesn’t always require complex solutions. Sometimes it begins with something as simple as a trash bin—and a community willing to work together.

When you support HealthEd Connect, you make these solutions possible. You help empower community health leaders like Sangeeta. You help create safer environments for children. And you help build a cleaner, healthier world for families across the globe.

Thank you for being part of the change.

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The following images were from a recent community cleanup day where people of all ages worked alongside one another to clean up their community to make it a safe living space for all.

Carol Chisenga and Evelyn Kase are recent nursing graduates from Ndola, Zambia.

Sirah Nambeye, current nursing scholar in Ndola, Zambia.

Today, on this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate the vital contributions women and girls make across every area of scientific discovery and innovation. At HealthEd Connect, our mission has always centered on empowering women and children through health, education, and advocacy—and this day offers the perfect opportunity to highlight some of the remarkable individuals who embody that mission: our nursing scholars.

Each year, in partnership with the Professional Nursing Association, we offer scholarships to aspiring nurses around the world. These scholarships help open doors to professional training, leadership development, and greater opportunity within their communities.

This year, we were thrilled to award scholarships to 14 incredible nursing students from 4 different countries, each of whom is dedicated to bringing health, care, and compassion to the people they serve. Supporting these scholars on their educational journeys is more than an investment in their futures—it’s an investment in the health and wellbeing of entire communities.

Sangeeta Poudel, former nursing scholar and current HealthEd Connect coordinator for Biratnagar, Nepal, alongside Nikita Malla, also a former nursing scholar and community health volunteer in Biratnagar, and Thad Wilson, HealthEd Connect board member and nurse who provided recent training in Nepal.

Many of these students don’t just study healthcare—they live it. Several former nursing scholars remain deeply connected to HealthEd Connect programs in their home regions by:

• Providing training for our community health volunteers

• Offering their time and talents as volunteers themselves

• Bringing reliable, compassionate health education back to their neighborhoods

Their commitment to giving back speaks volumes about their passion, resilience, and sense of calling. We are deeply grateful for their leadership and their dedication to strengthening community health from the inside out.

To all the nurses and nursing scholars who inspire us every day: we see you, we appreciate you, and we celebrate you. Thank you for the healing, hope, and education you bring into the world.

We love our nurses and our nursing scholars—today and every day!