Orphan Grief Counseling

Due to the staggering population of single and double orphans, the community health volunteers (CHVs) in Zambia recognized a need for professional grief counselors in their community. The Child Support Specialist Program, or CSS, began soon after the schools formed. It became a safe time where orphans could play, speak about their feelings and obstacles, and receive professional support from a health worker and professional counselor.

This program is one that is near and dear to our hearts, as it affects so many children in Zambia after the AIDS crisis wiped out nearly an entire generation. CHVs have taken a special interest in supporting parents who have just lost a partner and grandparents who find themselves re-learning how to parent at an older age.

Children in the CSS program lovingly refer to the CHVs as “Mama Madam”, a figure that cares for them and looks after them. A book was written with the same title, Mama Madam, to normalize working through grief, loss, and adjustment to new environments.

What began in Zambia has expanded to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where “Mama Madam” groups now provide support for vulnerable children in both rural and urban communities. These groups remind children that they are not alone and offer a safe, nurturing environment where healing, hope, and resilience can grow. Through the dedication of local CHVs, children are surrounded by caring adults who help them move forward with confidence and support.