Students from the Rai Village school supply event

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 students faces!

Volunteers (in back row) and students

Gabriel, holding his volunteer heath worker training certificates from 1995 and onward!

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. 

New computers being installed by Mr. Makayi Phiri

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!

A new printer/scanner, ready to be installed!

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.

Students at Mapalo YPM after their meeting with YCMO. Image shared with permission from Youth Changing the Mindset Organisation.

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!